AVE COVID 19.  Latest updates will appear on this log, newest content on top.

02.06.2020

Andy's Sunday Saviours 

 

The path we followed wasn't the best was it. It was a cross between the Grand Old Duke of York, and the Hokey Cokey..... we were at the top of the hill weren't we, our left foot was in..... then before we knew it our left foot was out, we were shaking it all about, and were were marching down again.

 

So how do we address this..... firstly..... 10 deep breaths..... go on.... do it now... you deserve it. Then let's analyse what's happened.

 

Lancashire, up-to 17.50 on on Wednesday 27th May was telling us to follow government advice, leaving it all to Headteachers, asking us to complete Risk Assessments galore.... then boom. Stop right there, thank you very much! So where are we now... well, let's wipe our memory, and clear our cache, and delete our browsing history.... forget all that was said about returning to school..... we're as we were.

 

Sunday Saviour Number 1

Let's refresh the basics. let's get reorganised, and lets start again. So, we're "home schooling" again.... no one's back at school, and the day stay key worker list hasn't changed. With that in mind, it might be nice to refresh, and re organise the home learning area. It needs to be tidy, minimalist and organised, otherwise kids wont use it. Consider a refresh of resources. Find the list of resources we 1st published upon school closure and inject a new resource into the programme. Espresso is good, age appropriate, and current. There'll be videos on there about the Rocket Launch, and Science is good on there as well. In addition continue with a programme that works for you. our programme from St George's is very similar. The day will start with a morning exercise at 9.00am, then the story will continue at 9.30am. This story is aimed at year 2/3/4 children, but accessible to all. (The infant story and the y5/6 story have now finished, and won't resume until we partially return to school. Mrs Steel will be taking over story time when we return to school) Assembly will be beamed at 11.00am daily, and I will go Live at Lunch time on Monday, and Wednesday. I will zoom on Friday's for a question and answer session. This is open to all parents - it will largely be only me answering your questions... I won't have anything massive to say, but it is another way of communicating between us. In addition, Karen Barclay will be carrying on with her art tasks, which are great, Anne Fothergill will be setting us PE challenges, Tom Norris will be setting us a STEM challenge which I know has captured many of your interests, Cathy Smith will be teaching us to sign, and Tom Fothergill may continue to entertain us with his brilliance on a Wednesday.... that said, I do know he's busy for the next 2 weeks.... I may have to do it!

 

Seesaw will also continue from the teaching staff. This is set daily, and i know many of you are enjoying using this APP. As you know, when/if we return to school at any point there will be a suspension in the use of this APP for 2 weeks whilst we all acclimatise to a new routine. You now have the benefit of foresight here, and may wish to stockpile a few tasks set by the teacher for use during the 2 week when we're off line? Perhaps? Maybe? Ish?

 

In addition we continue to refer you to the Oak academy, and to BBC bitesize for more daily lessons and activities. 

 

Sunday Saviour Number 2 is to limit what your doing - cut it down to 3 things a day - one thing in a morning, one in an afternoon, and one thing in an evening. Everything else can wait. You're not super human, nor in fact do you need to be. You're human with your own priorities.... don't let others add pressure onto you. That's why i repeatedly say, "If it works for you, it works for me" and that remains my motto, and it will do for the foreseeable future.... and when the time comes, i'll wean you off it gently. 

 

Sunday Saviour Number 3 regards our use of coffee and contemplation time. Use this time this week to read the new home learning menus and letters that will come out on Friday. These will be invaluable at offering different on line platforms for you to access as we re establish a nuanced routine for home learning. It will take effort really to inwardly digest what they say, and there may be a temptation to ignore them.... but you will be able to use them to refresh your child's home learning routine.

 

With regard to coffee and contemplation time time, Sunday saviour number 4 may be more than a Sunday Saviour, it may be a life saviour.  Let's slow our minds down.... let's focus on some of the positives. Take a look at https://www.actionforhappiness.org/joyful-june

It is joyful June, and there is a lot to be joyful about. Let's take time out for ourselves to meditate. It's great. I use the free resources on https://portlandpsychotherapy.com/resources/acceptance_and_commitment_therapy_exercises_and_audiofiles/

And if at this point you're saying you haven't got time - trust me. That's your minds way of telling you to find time, as you are doing too much. Look after the kids mental health as well.... remember we can access Headspace for kids. It's also superb. The kids will be fraught, stressed, and maybe even worried, perhaps especially those who will be scampering off to high school soon.... A little bit of mindfulness is ace. It will help today, and tomorrow.... its a great skills to learn. Promise.

 

Sunday Saviour Number 5 - why not. Learn the lyrics and a dance to Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now.... It's a right motivating song, and one I'll be blasting out on that 1st day back.... i want to hear you singing it from miles away.... and dancing to it up Carr Lane! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oelufp5nTB0&list=RDOelufp5nTB0&index=1

 

Can you, as is now part of the plan share you own Sunday Saviours..... can I have one from you to finish with!? What's working for you, may just be a saviour for someone else.

 

As always folks, thanks for your patience, understanding, support and forgiveness when we mess. I also say we're not perfect.... i don't want to be, it's too stressful. We don't always get it right, but we'll always put it right. And please, I beg be kind to yourself, and to each other. We're often much kinder  in what we say to others rather than what our inner chimp chats to ourselves. You're doing bloody brilliant. i promise. Your supporting each other, you're looking after yourselves, and your doing great in phenomenally stressful times. Im proud of you. I don't mean to patronise, I hope you're as proud of yourselves, as I am you. Well done, and thank you. And remember when you find yourself in times of trouble.... Mother Mary will pop along, there will be an answer, and until that happens simply let it be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7wErmth4k4

 

Take it easy folks, and breath,

 

Andy xx

 

 

Karen Barclay's Art Challenge 

Hello children👋🏻This week I thought we’d go for a walk (I’m sure you’ve been doing quite a bit of recently!). Artist Paul Klee said ‘a line is a dot that went for a walk’. This is often what happens with a doodle…you don’t plan to draw, your pencil just seems to wander off across the paper. These drawings are made from an unbroken line (you could then added stick legs and eyes to make the shapes into a quirky character).
Why not have a go at taking a dot for a walk? Don’t plan your picture. Just let your pencil wander randomly without leaving the paper/ ground/wall. Have fun x

01.06.2020

White Rose Hub

White Rose Hub Worksheets for Week 6 have been uploaded to the website for Y1-6. Answer sheets to follow!

White Rose Hub Worksheets Link

TES Newspaper Article 

Seems eminently sensible to me.... Its pretty much how we'll return.... Whenever that maybe!

How did Dutch pupils react to going back to school?

Children's Books 

A picture book for children who are worried about the Coronavirus 

Everybody Worries

My_Hero_is_You_Storybook_for_Children_on_COVID-19 can also be downloaded by scrolling down the screen.

31.05.2020

Pentecost at Home

 A service for the Feast of Pentecost from St George's Church, Chorley. The order of service can be found here: https://stgeorgechorley.co.uk/assets/...

St George's Pentecost at Home Service on You Tube

28.05.2020

Partial Re Opening of Schools 

Please find attached a letter from myself and Fr David regarding the latest advice about the partial re opening of schools from 1st June. Please scroll to the bottom of the page to download. 

23.05.2020

Some useful documents which can be downloaded if you scroll down the page. 

Helping Children Learn at Home  - Here's some guidance from our psychology service re helping your child learn at home.....

Transition Back to  School Part 1 - We will be focusing on this document as we continue our plans to help kids in reception, year 1 and year 2 transition back to school from 1 June.  We will be focusing on this document as we continue our plans to help kids in reception, year 1 and year 2 transition back to school from 1 June.

Transition Back to  School Part 2 - And our final document to share......

20.05.2020

STEM Challenge

Sorry it's late folks .....here's this weeks STEM challenge - This week the challenge is maths based. Follow the link below to an explanation of a famous logic game called 'Towers of Hanoi'. How many discs can you move? STEM club managed to do 5. Can you do more? Post your pictures and videos below or email to school and let's see who the Champion of Hanoi will be....

https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/tower-of-hanoi/

SeeSaw 

Just a little clarity for our keen SeeSaw users. You can continue to access and complete SeeSaw activities. All existing activities will stay there for you to use if you wish, but there will be no new ones posted, or feedback given, for at least two weeks after half term as everyone adjusts to the new routine.

I hope that helps, and that you enjoy using the existing activities alongside our other resources.

Oxford Owl 

Oxford Owl are allowing parents to read eBooks for free on their website.

In order to do this you need to create a parent log in and then go on ‘Books’, then onto ‘free ebooks’.

This has been checked and it provides books for 3-11 year old children.

https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/find-a-book/library-page

New Intake Meeting

'New Starter Pack' have been distributed to all our confirmed 'Reception September 2020' starters, please return the green forms at the back of the pack as soon as possible. If for any reason you have not collected your pack, these will be delivered later this afternoon by a member of staff. 

Andy will be delivering an 'Intake Meeting' Live on Facebook tonight (Wednesday 20th May) at 7:00pm.

This “meeting” will last around an hour.

Prior to the meeting please ensure you have joined our Facebook page – St Georges Primary School by answering the three questions required for approval. 

If you are not on Facebook, please don’t worry, I will post the video onto our school website shortly after the address. 

For this virtual meeting, I will talk through the documentation that you will have received. Please have it to hand. I know this is all very strange, it is for me too. Although virtual, this remains a very important meeting, as we will be discussing details and procedures about your child starting school in September. (Government permitting of course!)

If you have any problems, concerns, or worries about accessing this induction process please email the school using help@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk

19.05.2020

Art Challenge - Mrs Barclay

Hello children

It’s that time of the week again. Let’s add to our gallery. This weeks challenge was inspired by a few artists the first being Turner prize winner Grayson Perry and the others our very own Jack S and Jasmine ! All have been making ANIMAL ARTWORK. It could be a beloved pet, something exotic or abstract , whichever try to use a new medium maybe photography, clay, food or a ‘bits and bobs ‘collage. Here are a few ideas to get you started . Have fun ! X

18.05.2020

Oak National  Academy - Home Learning Resource

The new "Oak National Academy" is an online school supported by the government's Department for Education. It has been written by more than 40 teachers.

It caters for children from Reception to Secondary age.

It can be accessed at https://www.thenational.academy/

Each day offers a school-style English and Maths lesson plus another subject for every year group. The lessons (which are pre-recorded and can be accessed to suit) are about an hour each in duration and are delivered by a teacher, in a classroom with video, reading and graphic content. As such, they are a very good representation of a lesson in school. They do, however, require a child to have sole use of a laptop or tablet/desk top. A smart phone will work too (just a smaller screen) if they can use it uninterrupted for the whole lesson. Because each lesson needs an hour's worth of on line time, the lessons are technology-intensive. However, if you have safe and suitable IT equipment, plus a peaceful space for your child to work in, this is an excellent resource and well worth a look.

Returning to School

Folks, here are our proposed documents for the planned return of reception, year 1 and year 6 kids from 1st June. They are everything we have available at the moment.... May I suggest you read them, and ask any questions you may have on this thread. I will do a Facebook live on Wednesday and answer your questions, and we will have a zoom meeting on Friday for a face to face chat. There is no pressure, it is just our offer to you. As with everything we have said during the COVID experience, if it works for you, it works for us.

White Rose Hub 

From this week, the worksheets will be available on the school website to use alongside the videos on White Rose Hub platform. if you have any queries about the White Rose Hub learning, please contact school via email. 

Link to White Rose Hub Worksheets

https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/

Andy's Sunday Saviours

Mrs Fothergill's Gymnastic Challenge 

Well done all who completed the skipping challenge last week- I’m very impressed!
This week’s gymnastics challenge is:
How long can you hold a plank?
You need to have a straight body, like Tom, and lean on your elbows!
Post how long you hold it for on Facebook or alternatively email your times to school using help@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk

17.05.2020

Message from Andy

The demised of Purcell's Parbold pop up seems to have hot some of you as hard as Take That splitting up!!

I had to stop it.... It had had its day, and I was knackered! However, upon mature reflection the timing seems rubbish.... So the compromise is, as we enter a new phase and take steps towards partial re opening...

Andy Live.... Mondays and Wednesday @12..... On Facebook...

Ukulele Sessions on Charanga.

This message is aimed at Classes 7, 8 and 10 on behalf of the ukulele teacher Mr Woodward. He is going to be able to offer weekly sessions on Charanga. If you would like to access them please email help@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk with your child’s name and class.

Mrs Barclay's Art Challenge 

Good afternoon children, it’s artist of the week time and this week is a bit different, our artist is one of today’s leading Graphic designers. Her name is Jacky Al - Samarraie . She likes to use silhouettes and just one block colour to show a scene or a pastime ( if you have seen the school V.E day celebration piece it’s a bit like that )
So, your challenge is to show a scene or a pastime special to you BUT you can only use one colour and black .Here are some examples of her work to give you a starting point ...... Have fun x

11.05.2020

Andy's Sunday Saviours

 

In such a charged situation, with our emotions all over the place, the pressures on us all are immense aren't they. Once again though, I would like to offer my opinion that many pressures comes from our own negative self talk..... i don't want to say to you "stop it" as you can't really, but with practice you can turn the volume down, and you can learn to ignore it, and treat it as the background noise it is. The Sunday Saviour are unashamedly positive. Not unrealistic. Just positive. I'm not some unrealistic Pollyanna, I just want to try and ensure that our thoughts, actions and conversations are proportionate to the situation. It would be very easy indeed for our thoughts, actions and conversations to become disproportionate to the situation, and that's not good for anyone.

 

So my Sunday Saviour number 1 is to reflect on the past week, and celebrate your successes. There are many. We did a great runathon, and superb bakeathon in addition to all your other successes whether they be seesaw, gardening, exercise, Do so on your own, but also as a family.... get a feel good buzz between yourselves and your kids.... congratulate yourselves. You're doing great, I promise...

 

My Sunday Saviour number 2 is part of a longer term plan.... maintain the structure you've set up... stick to it.... It sounds from the statement tonight that schools are not opening up fully any time soon. I'll put some thought into this, and perhaps offer some changes and fresh resources and ideas for after half term. But remember my underlying belief in all of this.... nothing we offer to you is compulsory at all. We offer suggestions for you to use if you wish, to support you. But if what you're doing is working for you, then it is certainly working for me.

 

Sunday Saviour number 3. Simple. If your stress levels are above 5/10 then get in touch with us! If nothing else we can talk..... it certainly won't do any harm.

 

Sunday Saviour number 4. Go back to the basics.... we're so far into this now we'll have forgotten the basics... all the guidance we gave out in the beginning - we bombarded you.... I reckon less than 20% will have stuck..... so in your coffee and contemplation time this week re read the advice we offered in the early days, check out the resources, re read the homework menus, and for now.... take baby steps.... all you need do is keep putting one foot in front of another, get out of bed, and keep your kids, and yourselves safe.

 

Sunday Saviour number 5 - remember your coffee and contemplation time. Time where you're not doing anything, you're not "teaching", you're not working, you're not cooking or cleaning.... you're just scanning, contemplating and mentally planning.... take this time to plan a calm smooth next few days!

 

Help me out with Sunday Saviour Number 6.... What's working for you? What's helped you? What's saved you? True..... it might not work for others, but I might gently nudge them onto a different, more positive and more successful track... Who knows. So, help me out, and help us all out..... what would you write for Sunday Saviour Number 6?

 

Take it easy folks, and remember if you're struggling, want to check something or simply just want a chat..... help@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk, or give me a call.

 

Year Six SATS Poem

A Poem for our Year 6 children 🤗 🌈 (it's not one of mine, but all the same it's lovely.... Xx)

Today is the day that SATs would have started,
The classroom set up and the tables parted,
The rules on the board, the display walls all covered,
Your workbooks away, out of sight in the cupboard,

Instead you are home, you’re doing your bit,
Protecting your families from getting sick,
It’s important right now, we’re in lockdown you see,
Being part of world history,

You’ve all worked so hard, you should be so proud,
You’ve practised your SPAG and times tables out loud,
You’ve learnt algebra to the Nth degree,
And now the tests, they will no longer be,

Some may be sad that they can’t take the tests,
“Hip hip hooray,” I’ve no doubt said the rest,
Whilst the tests are on hold and you stay home this term,
Remember that tests can’t measure everything you learn,
And I don’t need SATs results to tell me,
How hard you have worked, it’s easy to see,

St George’s Year 6, let me shout it out loud,
You’ve made all your teachers so very proud,
So please continue to learn, fill that brain up full,
And remember, we think you’re all wonderful!

British Gymnastics Challenge

This weeks gymnastics challenge is How many skips can you do in 30 seconds?

 

  

 

Good luck and post your results on Facebook or alternatively email them to school using help@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk

 

---

08.05.2020

VE Day 75 Art Competition

Congratulations to our winners:
KS1 - Matilda H & Pearl (Class 3)
KS2 - Jasmine P (Class 10)

A special prize will be with you later today!

Many thanks to all of the children that entered. It was a really tough decision so I asked my Dad to be the judge.

Jasmine - He said, your artwork ie (fields of poppies) is a great representation of those who lost their lives on the altar of freedom. 'Lest we forget!'

Matilda- He said, your artwork (a field of poppies with a spitfire flying above) is a great representation of the courage British Soldiers showed in the face of overwhelming odds.

 

07.05.2020

STEM Challenge

Thank you for your videos and entries for last weeks STEM challenge. They were ace! I was impressed by all the videos this week - great engineering everyone ! This week, your challenge is to design a contraption that will protect a raw egg when it falls from a height. You can use any materials you have at home to protect your egg but your egg must go inside the contraption before it is dropped rather than putting things down on the floor. I have posted a link below to a website full of ideas and how you could adapt for KS1/KS2 children. Post your pictures of your contraptions below in the comment or even post a video of you dropping your egg inside the contraption and revealing whether the egg has survived or not. Get making kids ! Who can drop it from the highest point without it breaking? Good luck.

Alternatively email them to school using help@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk

04.05.2020 

Andy's Sunday Saviours

02.05.2020

Get creative whilst at home with our VE Day 75 Art Competition!

The Royal British Legion calls on the nation to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day from home.

Join us on Friday 8 May as we pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the entire Second World War generation, from British, Commonwealth and Allied Forces to evacuees and those who served on the home front. As we face some of the most challenging times since the end of the Second World War, now more than ever it is important to unite in recognition of service to the nation, just as communities did 75 years ago.

Update on Arts Week from Miss Yates

Kids... do you remember Arts Week?! That seems such a long time ago now doesn’t it! Do you remember the Andy Warhol that picture you took of yourselves? ... well tadaaaa!! It’s arrived!! How brilliant is it! It’s waiting for you at school, ready for you to find your face when you get back... Thanks to the Gregory family for putting it together so beautifully for us!

Wildlife Trusts 30 Days Wild Challenge - Recommended by Mrs Makepeace 

Thought some of the children and their families might be interested in this. I’ve signed up!

This June we challenge you and your family to do one wild thing a day! Take part in 30 Days Wild! 🐝🌱🐞😊

Sign up for 30 Days Wild

Year 6 Hall Board Challenge 

Year 6... We're doing the hall boards up... I need your help. Please can you send me, ON SEESAW, 3 selfies.

#1: looking happy
#2: Looking indifferent/ bored
#3: extremely sad

Prag's Indian Cooking Club

Hope you had fun making the recipes I shared last time. This time I’m sharing my Naan & Chicken Korma recipes. I’d love some feedback & let me know if there’s a recipe you’d like me to write & share with you. 

27.04.2020

Andy's Weekly Address 

Well, how you all doing!? Here’s the weekly newsletter—it does contain additional information from what’s on facebook, in addition to some repetition…. It’s just another way of trying to communicate with you all, and keep you all in the loop best we can.

I think between all SLMT we’ve now spoken to you all, and what a great group of people you are. You’re performing minor miracles… being a parent, holding down your jobs, and now teaching as well! Take it easy out there, and remember there’s enough pressure on us…. Don’t add unnecessary pressure on yourselves…. If it’s working for you, its working for me.

Art Challenge by Mrs Barclay

Good afternoon children . I loved seeing all of your Hundertwasser creations last week they were fabulous ! How’s your hair looking ? Surreal ? The theme this week is ‘crazy hair ‘ . Take a picture/ draw your face( or mums, dads, grandma, grandads )and get ‘surreally ‘ creative with hair! I have attached some ideas.Year 5 and 6 have a look at incorporating Surrealism and maybe build an artist profile of Salvador Dahli . Take care and enjoy ! 🎨👏🏻x

Bug Club Advice from Mrs Brown

As it's come up more than once on the help@, please note that to access Phonics Bug you need to use the school code as well as your personal log in details. Also, your Internet browser will make a difference; for example it doesn't work well in Safari but is fine in Chrome.

Active Learn www.activeteachprimary.co.uk This includes Bug Club and Phonics Bug. Your child’s teacher may use this to set online reading activities. You will need the school code, below, as well as your child's individual Log In details. School code: stge

Lancashire Consultants Home Schooling TV

Home Learning

Mrs Brown has kindly uploaded this half terms class newsletter and homework menus to the website. Click on the link below and locate (click) your child's class on the left hand side. 

https://www.st-georges.lancs.sch.uk/page/?title=Classes&pid=52

Charanga Home Learning - Music 

Good morning,

We have a fantastic music resource in school that we use from Lancashire called Charanga. They have created some home learning music packages, known as YUMU, which we can now all access. The logins for the children are the same as their ones for Purple Mash, TTRS and Numbots etc. Only slight difference is they need to put a # in front of their login and password. I have attached an example login letter at the bottom of the page . Please let me know if you have any difficulties logging in.

26.04.2020

Money Sense

Natwest MoneySense Home Learning covers a new money topic every fortnight, with free and fun resources to use at home.

British Gymnastics Challenge

Time for the weekly gymnastics challenge!
Well done to those that took part in last weeks balance challenge .... very impressive!
This week see how many times you can do a stretch or tuck jump in 30 seconds holding a beanbag between your knees! ⁠
⁠
If you don't have a beanbag, why not change for a pair of socks?⁠ Post your results on Facebook or alternatively email it to                help@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk

25.04.2020

The St George's (Social Distancing) Marathon - Pupils, Staff and Parents

Can we run a marathon next Sunday?

If you're keen to join in the fun? Send us an email on help@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk or write on a comment underneath the post on Facebook containing which miles you'll do, then we'll set up a results snake.  Mr P will start it off, he is going to do 0-4 miles. So, whose gonna do miles 4 to.....? Just run wherever, but next Sunday.... Come on kids.... Let's do this....

Open to Parents, kids, staff, remember you have to complete your run in an hour max..... #socialdistancing #stayhomesavelives #protectthenhs

Happy St George's Day 

22.04.2020

Art Challenge by Mrs Barclay   

Good afternoon children ! Each week I will be giving you a new artist to research and am challenging you to create artwork based on their style . You could paint, use fabric, use food, junk model or anything else you can think of . Remember to use scale think big / think small .

This weeks artist is Hundertwasser

(Year 6 you could do an artist profile as you did for Gaudi) . Post them onto Facebook or email them to help@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk . I can’t wait to see your creations ! Take care 

Stem Challenge by Mr Norris

It's Wednesday afternoon which means it's time for a new STEM challenge ! The rockets that you made since the last STEM challenge have been brilliant and they all look amazing - some of you even managed to launch them! My winners this week are Cian O'Donohoe and Molly Holland - well done on your fantastic rockets you two and well done to everybody who took part.

Mr P has actually pinched some of my STEM challenge this week in one of his Parbold Pop Ups! This week, you will able to see satellites flying overhead at night. Pick a night to stay up with your parents and watch them fly across the sky. Theres some information on this website on when to look out for them - https://james.darpinian.com/satellites/?special=starlink

20.04.2020- Welcome Back! 

19.04.2020

Easter Competition (Mrs Foth)

I've just been "judging" the Easter colouring competition with my family and we are all agreed that the entries were ALL so good, that everyone who entered deserves a rainbow reward.

06.04.2020

Why not .... Just for fun, and to brighten up our Facebook page.

Easter Not a Competition
Decorate an egg

01.04.2020

Mrs Fothergill's Easter Competition

Hello everyone, as we approach the Easter holidays I thought I'd set some Easter challenges.

Easter Colouring Competition: Pick one of the sheets below (download below) to print off and colour. Post your finished colouring sheets onto our Facebook page or alternatively email them to (help@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk). There will be a prize for the best in each year group. 

30.3.2020

Timetable

Here is an idea for a timetable you might want to use to structure your days. You could change it to make it work for you, add things to it, take things out, make it your own or keep it as it is. (Go to the bottom of the page to download). 

Useful Contact Details

Andy has composed a list of useful contact numbers should you or your child need them during the pandemic. (Go to the bottom of the page to download). 

Sunday Saviours 

To keep it all real, and to stop our heads going at a million miles an hour, I have published 6 Sunday Saviours. Small, achievable things to accomplish in a week. To ensure we're not over whelming ourselves, to ensure we don't feel rubbish, to ensure we keep up only with ourselves.... not the Jones. How many of last weeks Sunday Saviours did you complete?

Create a workspace for your kids to use?

Say the School Prayer with them each evening, or my favourite evening prayer? For example, "Lord keep us safe this night, secure from all our fears. May Angels guard us whilst we sleep, until morning light appears. Amen."

Did you log into any assemblies? - these are every day, at 11:00am.

DId you begin to download the seesaw app?

It's now time for this weeks Sunday Saviours.....

• Each Day - Read, or get your kids to read (either a book, bug club, or kindle, or audible) But one of the things that could be lost, isn't academic stuff - we'll sort that, it's resilience to challenge, perseverance to challenge and work stamina. Infant kIds should be able to stick on a single task for 6 minutes, plus their age. So, a 4 year old should be able to sustain a task for around 10 minutes. Junior kids should be able to sustain an activity for 11 minutes plus their age. So a year 6 kid 11 + 11 = 22 minutes. Of course, things lengthens with adult interactivity.
• Daily Maths for the above length of time..... TT Rock Stars for the juniors, Numbots for the infants. We also have my maths for both. And White Rose Hub have loads of stuff on line, and we've sent you the details for this.
• Headspace - i believe this is now free for everyone. It's brilliant. I've always used it. This is a biggie.... just chose a topic, and meditate with your kids daily, twice a day would be great....

1. Check last weeks.... achieve a couple more. To stick with the programme, prioritise a tidy workspace for the kids.
2. If winging it is still working, stick to it, if not, set up a structure. We sent one out last week, I'll publish another one on Facebook tonight.... for you to use if it helps. Any problems, email help@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk
3. Do daily exercise (Your own, Joe Wicks, 9.00am on Youtube, Cosmic Kids, this is on line, available any time)

Andy's Weekly Address

Wow..... how weird is this!? But take a step back, look around at everything you've achieved, and toast yourselves, and your family.... well done everyone. May I start by thanking everyone for their magnificent support you have afforded us during the past week, it really is most kind. It's been a challenging time for us all, but none more so for those on the front line. I really don't know what to say to you, apart from thank you. It is your work that allows me to sleep at night. 

29.3.2020

Miss Berry and the Chorley SSP have set up a Cross Country Challenge. How many of us can still go and run a mile over the weekend? Post your pictures and videos onto the St George's Facebook page, send them directly to the SSP by email CSSP@buckshaw.lancs.sch.uk or add them to your class Seesaw.  The Chorley SSP will award this year's trophy to the school with the most participants. Happy running everyone!

On Thursday we had a gazebo stolen from the school grounds. Some gazebos have sadly been broken by the wind over the weekend. We will replace in full when this pandemic is over. Sorry for any inconvenience caused. 

Father Mike has produced a document called 'Praying at Home' with the church being closed. This can be found on the school's Facebook page or you can request an electronic copy by emailing help@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk.

26.3.2020

Schools have been asked to stay over the EASTER break to allow KEYWORKERS to go into work. To enable us to staff this, please can you email SHARON in the office if you're a KEYWORKER and require DAY-STAY at St George's over the EASTER holidays. 

DAY-STAY - Monday - Friday inclusive including BANK HOLIDAYS. 

As always please take note of Government instruction, and you should only be going into work if you're a KEYWORKER whose work is essential to the nation's COVID-19 response.

Please email SHARON by 5:00 pm tomorrow should you wish to utilise this service.

25.3. 2020

Each week, Mr Norris will be posting a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) challenge for you all to get involved with. This week is a Science Selfie Competition. Who can take the best selfie picture capturing the whackiest, most imaginative, craziest science at home? This can be an investigation or science in your garden or around the house. Please post your entries on the school's facebook page or drop us an email on help@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk.

Free School Meals

For those of you on free school meals, you can collect daily packed lunches, or weekly hampers, Collect weekly hampers on Monday. Both collections are from the Kitchen door. 

Tablets 

If any family does not have access to a tablet or phone ot the ability to access SEESAW. Please email help@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk and we will happily lend you a device from school. 

Facebook 

Sign up to the school page to keep up to date with staff, school and pupils. 

7:00am - Mr Purcell's Parbold Pop up! (daily)

9:00am - Yoga or Joe Wicks

9:30am - 3/4 Story Time (Live)

11:00am - Worship (Assembly)

1:30am - Infant Story Time (Live)

8:00pm - Y5/6 Story Time (Live)

18.3.2020

We have been instructed by the Government to CLOSE St George's on Friday at the end of school for MOST PUPILS. 

Exceptions to this at the moment include:

If your child has an education, health care plan, is in receipt of free school meals (not infant free meals) , or if you are a key worker i.e. one or more parents work in the NHS, armed forces, prison service, delivery drivers for supermarkets, teacher of a school that requires you to be in, food industry, social care workers, one or more parents work in the emergency services then school will be open as normal, from 8.30am until 5.30pm.

16.3.2020

In light of new Government recommendations, Chorley SSP confirm that all sporting events and competitions are postponed until further notice. They are considering running some online challenges. At this present time, Chorley SSP hope to continue to run activities onsite at St George's. 

16.3.2020

Follow this link for all the latest COVID 19 news IN THE EVENT OF A SCHOOL CLOSURE.

https://www.st-georges.lancs.sch.uk/news/?pid=13&nid=3&storyid=95

16.3.2020

Anyone with a "new, continuous" cough or high temperature is now advised to self-isolate for seven days, as the UK government moves to the "delay" phase of its plan to tackle coronavirus.

16.3.2020

Use this reputable checking tool if you're worried about new symptoms.

https://www.patientaccess.com/coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR3cero4lzNiyGn5CHJGWYs_z7tGdFWo1UdeVVdeHEOLzhLsUCJJEhPOGng

16.3.2020

WOW, well that’s been a bit of a week hasn’t it! First of all before I talk about our little world, let’s applaud the work of the health services and send our very best wishes to the politicians, and scientists who are leading the nation through this quite unprecedented and unexpected of times.

At St George’s the decisions that we take aren’t based on my amateur microbiology degree I awarded myself over the weekend, they’re based on a great deal of cautiousness until we’re given the knowledge to be confident again. They’re based on limiting risk, as I see it. They’re a calm measured set of actions to reduce the risk of COVID 19 popping into see us!

We've pulled out of a few events. Our decisions have been made not to be dramatic, or to create panic, simply out of an abundance of cautiousness, and to try and help the national agenda.

The Easter production, and rehearsals,  will now be held in school, more akin to an assembly, rather than in church. This was decided to avoid the mixed social gathering in a building other than school.

Swimming has been cancelled for year for the foreseeable future. Again, for the same reasons as above. The swimming pool is in a public building, that contains a gym. It doesn’t seem right for now swimming to continue where we could both catch, and indeed share our germs.

Although we are still collecting for the food bank, a member of staff will take the food up, rather than the kids.

The class 6 bag pack to Morrisons has been cancelled. Again, it’s a mixed social gathering

Easter bingo is also cancelled

We will show the events as cancelled on the web cal (ie leave them on, but write cancelled next to the title….. Please check the web cal before ringing school regarding events…. Assume they’re are going on, unless we have written cancelled on the web cal)

Facebook is a great way to keep in touch. I still hate it, but I can see the advantages. May I ask though that you stick to the more traditional forms of communication (email, telephone or face to face……. I had 12 messages from parents on imessenger over the weekend…… non of which I replied to! I socialise on imessenger you really don’t want me getting confused between the 2! Furthermore, I know you ask each other questions on facebook, that’s great…. And yeah, as staff have time, they may reply personally. But this isn’t the norm. If you want to speak to staff the channels are personally, email, phone call, letter…. Much thanks.

Sharon has spoken to all readers who valiantly give up their time to help us out. As long as you’re fit and well, please come into school as normal—bring a costa for me, and some banter and good news for everyone else!

That said, anyone with a new, continuous cough, or high temperature is now advised to stay off school for at least a week or until the temperature has returned to normal—whichever is the longer.

In school well be washing our hands regularly, but apart from that cracking on as normal.

Before you set off for school tomorrow check out 3 questions.

Andy

13.3.2020

The latest advice is for anyone with a high temperature, or a new cough to self isolate for a week! Accordingly, please, if your child shows these symptoms go into self isolation for the 7 days.

12.30.2020

Although I have no specific information, it is becoming increasingly likely that there is going to be some sort of school closure. Good luck. In situations like this it is my job, and our duty, to make things as easy for you all as possible. School has loads of on line resources that can be accessed from home. Click here to be taken to the information page on the website. As more resources become available I will publish them on facebook, and on the above section of the website.

There is plenty of work you can do at home, but I realise that any school closure will cause massive upheaval. Accordingly, all work is available, no work is compulsory. 

At home, during any school closure you can:

Use Purple Mash - consolidate your previous learning. 

Use espresso

Kids in year 2, and year 6, you have been sent home some past papers - please do them.... and return these. They will be marked, and used. 

You have the current, and previous homework menus that you can access. Discuss them. Complete activities. 

Challenge each other on TT rock stars. We'll do a school closure league table!

Learn your lines for the Easter play. It probably wont go ahead as planned, but we will do it!
Learn the songs for the Easter Production. These are available from the website.

You have your key spellings and key words sent home... learn to spell them. 

Use twinkle..... I will publish their online resources

read - Use bug Club, use oxford owl use 1st News. 

Practise what you know in maths.... use My Maths.

So, it will be certainly very different, but, should it be beneficial to you, theres lots to be going on with. 

I assure you that as i get information I will publish it here, and on facebook. 

During the school closure I will still write to you weekly, send you regular emails, and facebook updates, and respond to your emails with great haste. 

All the best, 

Andy