10th July 2020 www.newlandsprimary.net Telephone: 01252 871188 E-mail: enquiries@newlands.hants.sch.uk

Dear Children & Parents,

It has been another wonderful week working with the children the government said we could teach as part of our partial re-opening. Our attendance figures continue to far surpass local and national comparisons. The highlight of the week for me has been reading the letters the children have been writing to their new teachers. The teachers have also been busy writing letters to their new class. As I read them, I was taken by what a talented and varied staff team we have here at Newlands. The letters from the staff will be emailed out and uploaded to the website today. It has also been lovely meeting the children at our teacher meet and greets. On Monday, I was a bit worried it would all seem a bit formal and staged but the children seamlessly settled into the flow of it and seemed to really enjoy talking to their classmates while in the line and then sharing with their teachers all the wonderful and varied things they have done during lockdown.

In last week’s Homelink, I promised you more information about the whole-school opening in September. I’m now asking you to bear with me for a while longer. As I’m sure you can imagine, we are facing a massive logistical task. We have learned a lot since the partial opening on the 1st June and many of the things we have put in place for this will be used in September. The one lesson I have learned through the lockdown is it’s best to take time and work through all scenarios and widely consult before commit-ting and communicating plans with you. It is better to do it well once rather than rush and have to issue lots of sub-sequent letters changing things. I do have a nice long three page letter ready to send you but there are still some things we want to work out before pressing send. The one thing I can guarantee you is we will be open to all children on a full time basis with children losing no learning time.

This week I have had some first-hand experience with test and trace. On Thursday morning I developed a new per-sistent cough, by 10:30 my family had isolated, at 12:30 I had a test and by 10:30 on Friday I was back at work after a negative result. The whole process was seamless and gave me great confidence regarding the full opening of the school in September. After being given the ‘all clear’, and before I could cycle into work, Mr Gray decided seal off my office. As you can see from the inserted pic-ture, Mr Gray was thorough in do-ing this. On returning to school this morning, I was greeted by staff all eagerly awaiting my reaction on opening my office door.

William Neighbour

PTO for school and home learning photos

Key Dates July 2020 22nd Break up for Summer Reception 1:00pm, Year 1 1:10pm, Year 6 1:20pm Key Workers 1:30pm September 3rd Children Start Back, Y1—Y6 7th New Reception Class Start October 9th INSET—School closed to children 23rd Break up for half term at 3.15pm November 2nd Children Start Back 27th INSET—School closed to children December 18th Break up for Christmas at 1:30pm January 2021 4th INSET—School closed to children 5th Children Start Back February 12th Break up for half term at 3.15pm 22nd Children Start Back April 1st Break up for Easter at 1:30pm 19th Children Start Back May 27th Break up for half term at 3.15pm 28th INSET—School closed to children June 7th Children Start Back July 2nd INSET—School closed to children 23rd Break up for Summer at 1:30pm

Term dates for next year are on the web-site

Summer Term: 6th to 10th July

This week I have staged an Olympic opening ceremo-

ny. Despite the variable weather there has been lots

of outside learning. The children have also continued

to write letters to their new teachers.