Weekly Round Up

29th September 2023

Unfortunately we have had a number of members of staff who have become ill with COVID or COVID like symptoms.

We continue to follow Government guidance for staff in schools. Whilst we are living with COVID, staff who have symptoms and/or a positive result, should stay at home if they are feeling unwell and consider themselves unable to work.

If a class teacher are unwell, we will cover the class using our own Cover Supervisors in the first instance and when absolutely necessary will use supply/agency teachers.

Mental Health Drop In - For Children

Could you do with someone to talk to?

Come along to chat with our Mental Health Lead, Mrs Akram.

She will be happy to listen and can advise on further support where required.

Tuesdays: 12th September, 26th September, 10th October and 24th October 12.30pm – 1pm in Wellness Room.

Illness

We know it can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school when they're unwell. We are often asked to give advice but you are undoubtedly the expert on your own children.

There is wide agreement among health professionals and educational professionals that school attendance is very important. Being in school improves health, wellbeing and friendships. The greatest benefits come from children attending school regularly.

It is okay to send your child to school with mild respiratory illnesses. This includes general cold symptoms: a minor cough, runny nose or sore throat. Children should not be sent to school if they have a temperature of 38°C or above.

If you do keep your child at home, it's important to phone/email us on the first day of absence by 9am. Let us know that your child won't be in and give the reason.

NHS guidance says:

• Other illnesses

Please check the NHS guidance.

• Is my child too ill for school (NHS)

The  First Monday Drop in sessions will begin again this term.

The first Monday this academic year is Monday 2nd October. This will be a great opportunity to meet your child's class teacher and visit your child's classroom.

The format is very informal. The teacher will be in the classroom after school until 4pm to introduce themselves and its a great opportunity to see the classroom environment

Absent from School

If your child is absent from school please inform the office before 9am on the day of absence. You can do this in one of the following ways;

1) Leave a voicemail message on the absence line 
2) Visit the school office in person to let someone know

3) Email the school using REPORT ABSENCE as the subject heading.
 

State your child’s full name, their class and the reason for their absence, E.g. Chicken Pox.
Please do not give messages to the class teacher as at the start of the school day they are extremely busy and focused on getting the children settled so may forget.

Illness
Children should only be kept away from school for significant illness. If they have vomited or had diarrhoea, they should remain at home for 48 hours after the last episode.

Further guidance from Public Health England on when to keep your child at home can be found below.

Public Health - Infection Control in schools

After School Club - Friday 22nd September 2023

As I have shared on the latest news there has been an increase in the number of members of staff who are becoming ill with COVID or COVID like symptoms and this has impacted on our Burnside Out of Hours Club too. Due to staff illness for the first time since opening in 2018, I have had to unfortunately make the difficult decision to close at 5pm on Friday 22nd September.

This is due to staff illness.

I apologise for the inconvenience this will undoubtedly cause but it is imperative we operate in accordance with the staff ratio guidance and as I am unable to get cover at short notice I have no option other than to close early on Friday afternoon.

I would like to thank all members of my team who have stepped in to cover shifts for poorly colleagues this week, which has allowed me to operate as usual up until this point.

Weekly Round Up

22nd September 2023

Reception

Reception children have begun RWI phonics sessions. Please follow the link below to RWI phonics: a guide for parents, for more information. https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/reading-schemes-oxford-levels/read-write-inc-phonics-guide/

Children will be given a laminated speed sounds chart to practise letter sounds at home, alongside their work in school. They will also be given a laminated handwriting phrase card. Please use these letter rhymes to support children to practise the correct letter formation e.g. for letter a, say to child as they are writing letter a, “around the apple, down the leaf”. This then consolidates learning in school to ensure consistency in the teaching approach.

If you have any questions please speak to the Reception class teachers.

Many thanks, Miss Turnbull Literacy Lead

MacMillan Coffee Morning

Year 4 will be hosting MacMillan Coffee Morning on Friday 29th September at 9.15am. All are welcome to join us for cake & coffee to raise funds for this fabulous charity.

Flu Vaccination 15th Nov 2023

Reception - Year 6 Flu Vaccination

Flu vaccination will take place on Wednesday 15th November 2023 in school. Please follow below link

https://www.northumbriaimmunisations.co.uk/Forms/Flu

which will direct you to an online consent form for you to complete using the following school code NB122266

If you decide you DO NOT want your child to receive this vaccination, please complete a non consent form on the above link.

Lending Library

Lending Library At Burnside, we are continuously promoting reading for pleasure. This begins with our youngest children learning to talk about picture books and enjoying shared story time with an adult, to children learning to read independently and progressing into confident, free readers. Children learn to read by progressing through levelled books. Once they have developed the required skills for reading, they become confident free readers. It is at this stage that children are encouraged to pick their own reading book, which is both of interest and appropriate for their age.

Early readers on the Read Write Inc. (RWI) phonics programme are initially given letter practise sheets for home then progress on to a levelled reading book to consolidate their phonics learning. Alongside the RWI book your child will bring home, they will be given the option to choose a book of their own choice from the Lending Library. The book they choose may be of a level below or above their current reading ability. They may wish to read an easier book for enjoyment, or share a more difficult text with an adult or older sibling. They will get the opportunity to visit the library to change their book once a week so please make sure your child has their book in school on their allocated day if they wish to change it.

Lending Library Days

Reception- Tuesday 

Year 1- Tuesday

Year 2- Monday

Years 3- Wednesday

We will begin the lending library week beginning 18th September. I am sure you will all appreciate the money that has been spent on books, to ensure our school lending library is well loved and used, If library books get damaged or go missing, we ask you to make a donation towards replacing it.

Reminder

School Drop Off

There are no teachers/teaching staff on the school yard until 8.30am therefore, no children or adults should be on the school yard until 8.35am

Thank You

Parent Governor Vacancy

One of our parent governors, Mrs Rickerby has sadly resigned from our governing body due to work commitments. Mrs Rickerby has been a supportive and valued member of the governing body and I would like to thank her for her work and wish her and her family best wishes for the future.

Due to Mrs Rickerby's resignation we are now looking to appoint a new member to the governing body. If you are interested in this role and would like to get in touch please contact the school office who will pass on your details to the headteacher/ chair of governors. We will be able to answer any questions you have regarding the role and provide information regarding meetings you will be invited to attend and timings.

The nomination form needs to be returned by Monday 2nd October ( 12 noon ) this form can be found on the governor page on the school website. 

Year 6 starting High School in 2024, Apply by 31st Oct

Year 6 pupils will be transferring from Primary to High School in September 2024. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 31st October. 

The  First Monday Drop in sessions will begin again this term.

The first Monday this academic year is Monday 2nd October. This will be a great opportunity to meet your child's class teacher and visit your child's classroom.

The format is very informal. The teacher will be in the classroom after school until 4pm to introduce themselves and its a great opportunity to see the classroom environment.

Reporting your child absent from school

f your child is absent from school please inform the office before 9am on the day of absence. You can do this in one of the following ways;

1) Leave a voicemail message on the absence line 
2) Visit the school office in person to let someone know

3) Email the school using REPORT ABSENCE as the subject heading.
 

State your child’s full name, their class and the reason for their absence, E.g. Chicken Pox.
Please do not give messages to the class teacher as at the start of the school day they are extremely busy and focused on getting the children settled so may forget.

Illness
Children should only be kept away from school for significant illness. If they have vomited or had diarrhoea, they should remain at home for 48 hours after the last episode.

Further guidance from Public Health England on when to keep your child at home can be found below.

Public Health - Infection Control in schools