Head Teacher’s May Update – 27th May 2020
Reporting on your child’s progress, 2020
Your child’s End of term Report will follow in an email in the coming days. The report provides a summary of your child’s progress prior to the school closure in March. Please be assured that when school does reopen, teachers will work with your child to establish the next steps for learning.
Children make progress every day. The pace of learning depends on many factors including, attendance, time keeping, and understanding of particular blocks of learning and health and wellbeing. During this period of lockdown all children will have continued to learn whether from the school blog, other resources or learning wider skills from parents and carers.
Under normal circumstances in P1, most pupils will be ready to move on to Curriculum for Excellence First Level experiences and outcomes. Some children will require more time while others might be ready a little earlier.
By the end of P4 most pupils will have achieved First Level, some pupils may require a little more time and/or support, others may be ready to move on before the end of P4.
By the end of P7 most pupils will have achieved Second Level, some pupils may require a little more time and/or support, others may be ready to move on before the end of P7.
All children are going to need a little more time to cover then curriculum and adjust to school life. We will of course address this on our return.
For P7 pupils, we continue to work closely with St Maurice’s to ensure all information regarding learning and wellbeing is shared to ensure as smooth a transition as possible at this unprecedented time.
Session 2020/2021
Following the First Minister’s announcement last week, children will begin to return to school from the 11th of August 2020 if the progress with containing the virus continues. Our local authority are working to ensure a safe return for pupils and staff but we don’t yet know what that will look like.
As soon as we have a clearer outline or more information regarding our return we will let you all know.
Whatever model for reopening we have, we will do our very best to maximise your child’s learning while endeavouring to maintain a safe environment. We always do our best and staff very much appreciate the support and kind messages we have received since lockdown. They have made seismic changes to their working practices and continued to volunteer to support Keyworkers’ families in the St Patrick’s hub and other hubs in NLC.
Communication
The ht@holycross.n-lanark.sch.uk email address and the mobile numbers given in the previous update can still be accessed if you need anything during this time.
We use Twitter @HolyCrossNLC @HolyCrossNCNLC to celebrate learning and to inform parents of learning opportunities and updates for their children. Thank you to everyone who has contributed with likes, retweets, photos and positive comments. Our Twitter account has been changed to a locked account to ensure we know who follows us and that anonymous accounts/trolls do not detract from our intended use of Twitter.
And finally…
We continue to send our good wishes and prayers to our families and community we serve. Please look after one another and keep the important Holy Cross values of Love and Hope in mind at this time.
Best wishes & God bless
Mrs Murphy and the staff of Holy Cross
Head Teacher’s May Update – 7th May 2020
An update from the Head Teacher can be accessed by clicking on the link below:
Head Teacher’s Update May 2020
Digital Learning Update – 6th May 2020
Currently learning is posted Monday to Friday on the class blog (no login required) at https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/nl/holycrossblog/
We intend to extend this by using Microsoft Teams. This can be accessed through Glow or by downloading the Teams app to a desktop/laptop/tablet/iPad. It is strongly recommended that the Teams App is downloaded and as this appears to avoid the technical issues experienced by many when using the website version. However, teachers will still post learning on the class blog as a back up.
Microsoft Teams has functions which make it easier for children to interact with Class Teacher. The benefits are:
- Class Teachers can post tasks and resources
- Teachers can set up specific times where they will be ‘online’ and able answer questions about learning in real time
- Staff can monitor the traffic on the site
- Teams can be accessed on an PC/Mac/Laptop, any Tablet/iPad or Phone.
- Teams can be accessed on X-box and PlayStation too as well as on your SMART TV
We are here to help support you and your child with using Microsoft Teams. An email will be sent out to parents containing a detailed ‘How to’ guide in the coming days. This guide along with four help videos can be found below. We also recommend that you check that your child has the Glow login details issued before schools closed. If you require login details please complete the technical support form which can be found below.
***Please note, when logging the Microsoft Teams App for the first time, @glow.sch.uk should be added the end of your child’s username i.e. gw12bloggsjoe@glow.sch.uk
Support Materials for Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams Pupil Booklet Updated
Video 1: Accessing Teams for the first time
Video 2: Downloading the desktop app / mobile device app
Video 3: Signing into the desktop app / mobile device app
Home Learning Packs – 5th May 2020
We have produced some learning packs which will be available to collect from the school (outside the main entrance) on Friday between 10-11am.
These are for those who cannot access the digital learning materials which are being offered. Please take what you and all learning packs are labelled by class.
We have also scanned the packs so that you can, if you wish, download them for to give you additional tasks. Click on the links below to access:
Important Information Regarding School Arrangements from Tuesday 24th March for Key Workers
Hub schools will be open from Tuesday March 24 for the children of key workers. All other schools will be fully closed.
It is essential, to stop the spread of coronavirus, that people who can work from home do work from home. If you have a partner who is not a key worker they must provide childcare. This is not business as usual and it is vital that this support being offered is only accessed by those who absolutely require it to enable NHS and other critical services to function.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should any child who has symptoms of coronavirus, or who lives in a household where someone has symptoms, present at school. The whole family must follow the self-isolation advice.
Hubs will operate from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am and 8pm.
Pupils of key workers who attend Holy Cross should take their child to the Hub School at St Patrick’s Primary, Backbrae Street, Kilsyth, G65 0NA.
Update from Gerard McLaughlin, Head of Education (North)
Message to Parents/Carers
Parents and carers are advised that North Lanarkshire Council Communications team are preparing to release information as soon as possible through its normal communication channels regarding the closure of schools to pupils from today. This will include
· Arrangements for children of key workers (including clarification of who Key Workers are)
· Clarification of arrangements for S4-S6 pupils for SQA accreditation purposes
· Arrangements for those children requiring free school meals from Monday onwards
· Arrangements for children with additional support needs from Monday
Further information will be available through your school’s normal communication channels from Monday onwards.
Regards
Gerard
Gerard J. McLaughlin
Head of Education (North)
Education and Families
Civic Centre,
Motherwell
Supporting Children During Unsettling Times
North Lanarkshire has produced the following information to support your child during this difficult time. The document can be accessed below. Further resources are being developed and will be available in due course.
Click here – Supporting Children
Technical Support Form
Covid-19 Update – 15.03.20
You may be aware that a relative of a pupil at the school has displayed symptoms of Coronavirus and is now self-isolating. A deep clean of the school has been carried out today and the school will open as normal on Monday March 16.
The council continues to work closely with NHS and it is important that the national advice on symptoms is followed. Anyone with a new, persistent cough and fever should not attend school and self-isolate for 7 days. More information and advice can be found on https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19
Lent
As we approach the Season of Lent we would like to give you some information regarding our annual fundraising activities and events happening within the school. There will be fundraising activities throughout the season of Lent with all money raised going to Missio Scotland and SCIAF. Please find bellow an outline of the events that have been planned.
| Date | Event | Cost |
| Friday 28th February | Non Uniform Day – Please note in line with council policy, football colours should not be worn |
£1 (*suggested donation)
|
| Monday 2nd March | Guess the Chicks Birthday – competition will run until Friday 3rd April | Free |
| Monday 2nd March | Easter Egg Raffle P1-3 and P4-7 – Tickets will go on sale from Monday 2nd of March and the raffle will be drawn on Friday 3rd of April. |
20p |
| Friday 6th March | Crazy Hair Day | 50p
(*suggested donation)
|
| Friday 13th March | Beat the Goalie | 10p |
| Friday 20th March | Silver Mile – From Monday 9th of March children can bring in any silver coin to take part in our challenge to create a mile made up of silver coins on Friday the 20th of March. |
From 5p to 50p |
| Friday 27th March | Guess the Baby (staff baby picture) – there will be a prize for guessing all pictures correctly. |
20p |
*Please note donations are only suggestions. If you have more than one child at the school, one donation per family is required. All fundraising is optional.
SCIAF Wee Box Appeal
Each class has received a SCIAF Wee Box to raise funds in class. Any spare bronze coins for SCIAF would be greatly appreciated for the Wee Box Appeal.
Lenten Mass
There will be daily Lenten Mass within Holy Cross Parish Church at 8.15am where Fr Sullivan will lead us in Mass. Senior pupils will participate in the liturgy of the Mass. It would be great to see as many pupils as possible attending Morning Mass, as sadly numbers have dipped over the last few years. Attending Lenten Morning Mass helps us to reinforce the message of Prayer, Almsgiving and Fasting during the Season of Lent.
P1 -3 Easter Bonnet Parade/Fairtrade Coffee Morning
P1-3 will take part in an Easter Bonnet Parade on Thursday 2nd April at 9.30am. Parents and carers are welcome to join us in the school gym hall, were Fairtrade tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided during the parade. Thank you to our parents/carers in advance for making these at home with your child.
P4 -7 Easter Egg Home Competition
P4 – P7 will take part in the Easter Egg Competition (decorate an egg at home –boiled please). The theme of the competition will be ‘Children’s Rights’ to compliment the work being carried out in classes. These should be brought to school for Wednesday 1st April. The children will vote for the winning egg in each class.
Stations of the CrossWe will attend Stations of the Cross on Friday 3rd April at 1pm as a whole school. We kindly invite you to attend with us to remember the Passion and Death and of Jesus.
Easter Holiday
School will close on Friday 3rd April at 2.30pm for the Easter Break. School will reopen on Monday 20th April at 9:00am. Breakfast club at 8.15am.
Thank you for your continued support.
