{"id":4335,"date":"2020-04-07T15:52:48","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T15:52:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/?p=4335"},"modified":"2020-04-07T16:00:46","modified_gmt":"2020-04-07T16:00:46","slug":"head-teacher-newsletter-april-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/2020\/04\/07\/head-teacher-newsletter-april-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Head Teacher Newsletter &#8211; April 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3883 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/files\/2020\/03\/IMG_0627-294x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"153\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nDear Parents\/Carers, boys and girls,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">We are most certainly in the midst of strange and challenging times.\u00a0 I am writing to you, assuring you that my thoughts are with you all and with our families and wider school community.\u00a0 Having not seen many of the children for some time now, I am struck by how much we, the staff, are missing them and missing our daily interactions with everyone.<br \/>\nWe hope that you enjoyed our message to you all<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"620\" height=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hlONaoK0grg?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Despite the physical distance, we can remain connected in many different ways and in this Newsletter, I hope to draw your attention to some of those ways.<\/p>\n<p>Despite there being very few children in school recently, apart from those of Keyworkers, there has been a lot of activity within our local Learning Hub at St John Paul II,\u00a0 where children from all over Bellshill, Mossend, Viewpark, Tannochside and Birkenshaw will attend to allow their parents and carers to work if they are considered to be Keyworkers.\u00a0 It is a very different place to be, with Teachers and Support Staff as well as Nursery staff coming from all over our locality to work with those children in our Hub.<\/p>\n<p>It can be an unsettling time for those children who are most likely attending a strange school building with no familiar surroundings as well as no familiar staff to welcome them.\u00a0 Our own staff who are attending as part of a rota are helping to make everyone feel welcome!<\/p>\n<p>I believe that the welcoming and nurturing ethos which is evident every day in our school is continuing within the Hub, even in the absence of our children and staff.\u00a0 I would like to take this opportunity to say that I hope you are all keeping safe, healthy and well and that if you need us, we are here.\u00a0 Contact us via email, leave a message on our voicemail, or send a message via the app, Twitter or Facebook.\u00a0 These are checked as regularly as possible.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mrs Paterson<\/strong><br \/>\nHead Teacher<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>FREE SCHOOL MEALS DURING SCHOOL CLOSURES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A new payment system is being set up for pupils who receive free school meals &#8211;\u00a0this includes all primary 1 to primary 3 pupils and all eligible P4-7 children.<\/p>\n<p>It started on Friday 27 March and will run throughout the current health crisis.<\/p>\n<p>Parents and carers of pupils who receive free school meals will be sent a message twice a week from the council. It will include a voucher code for \u00a310.00 (you will receive a total of \u00a320.00 per child per week).<\/p>\n<p>The message will be sent either as a text message to your mobile phone, by email or as a printed copy if you don&#8217;t have internet access.<\/p>\n<p>You can use the voucher code at any shop that accepts Pay Point, for a list of your local Pay Point retailers visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/consumer.paypoint.com\/\">https:\/\/consumer.paypoint.com\/<\/a>\u00a0and enter your postcode.<\/p>\n<p>For more information, please email the free school meals team on: <a href=\"mailto:FME@northlan.gov.uk\">FME@northlan.gov.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Funding for the additional element of this provision has come from the \u00a33m emergency fund, which has been set up by the council to deal with the health crisis.<\/p>\n<p><strong>PLEASE BE AWARE:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>We are aware of fraudulent emails circulating asking for bank details of those with children entitled to free school meals.<br \/>\nPlease be aware that we do not require your bank details.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A TEXT\/EMAIL FROM NORTH LANARKSHIRE, THE DETAILS WE HAVE ON FILE FOR YOU AT SCHOOL NEED TO BE ACCURATE!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you receive Text Messages from us about your child\u2019s absence, etc. then we have the correct mobile number for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you gave us an updated email address when we requested this a week or so ago, then we have the correct email address for you and we have updated your file.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If your contact details have not changed since the Annual Data Check-in August\/September 2019, then we have the correct details for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>PERHAPS YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPLY FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>PERHAPS YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED AND YOU NOW NEED TO MAKE USE OF<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>THIS SERVICE?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Simply go to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk\/freeschoolmeals\">www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk\/freeschoolmeals<\/a> or email <a href=\"mailto:FME@northlan.gov.uk\">FME@northlan.gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Digital Learning<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/files\/2020\/03\/Teacher-Led-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"166\" height=\"166\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Digital Learning will undoubtedly be one of the most useful tools in the current situation.\u00a0Here is an outline of all of the opportunities available.\u00a0 These are not all internet-based and so, therefore, do not always require the services of broadband!\u00a0 TV channels are all offering daily educational programmes as well as radio.\u00a0 We will continually review our provision and look for innovative ways to engage with our children and their families.<\/p>\n<p>We have created a comprehensive online learning Team and we already have around 100 children signed up to take part in daily teacher-led activities.\u00a0The staff have been working really hard on providing a wide variety of fun activities. There is a weekly timetable to keep you on track with suggested activities. \u00a0Please pop on and have a look at what is available!\u00a0 Register to join by completing the form below and find out more information <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/online-learning-team\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" width=\"620\" height=\"348\" src=\"https:\/\/forms.office.com\/Pages\/ResponsePage.aspx?id=oyzTzM4Wj0KVQTctawUZKfahcYH0YcxCuNGVLrDBSHFUMVQwRTRPUksxM1NPM1FXODU0NVo1OVAzMyQlQCN0PWcu&amp;embed=true\" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen ><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3560 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/files\/2020\/03\/Sumdog.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>SUMDOG<\/strong> provides users with personalised Maths and Spelling practice through fun and engaging games.\u00a0 Teachers can monitor progress and set tasks and challenges.\u00a0 Children can play individual games, or they can link with other children across the school and even the country.\u00a0 There are motivational tools included to encourage children to improve on their personal best.<\/p>\n<p>Every child in North Lanarkshire schools has been provided with a SUMDOG login as part of the Scottish Attainment Challenge.\u00a0SUMDOG will be a familiar thing for most of our children, but perhaps not our parents. We have regular Teacher V Pupil SUMDOG competitions so get signed up and beat your teacher!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3561 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/files\/2020\/03\/StudyLadder-300x168.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Study Ladder<\/strong> is an online Literacy &amp; Numeracy learning tool.\u00a0 \u00a0All staff had already set their children up with accounts prior to school closure and usernames and passwords have been sent out prior to the closure.\u00a0Pop a ticket in on the below form<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" width=\"620\" height=\"348\" src=\"https:\/\/forms.office.com\/Pages\/ResponsePage.aspx?id=oyzTzM4Wj0KVQTctawUZKWovyaSFa4NPnWx5Naa-sJFUMUIySktFN1VFSkFRRFpTVEJHRk03TU40OSQlQCN0PWcu&amp;embed=true\" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen ><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>ABC Creative Home School\u00a0is now up and running at\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.abcmusichomeschool.org.uk\">www.abcmusichomeschool.org.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This resource is free to all parents \u2013 you just need to register and set up a password to use.<br \/>\nWe have adapted our award-winning resources for schools and nurseries so that parents and other adult caregivers can confidently teach their children music at home.\u00a0 Even if you have no musical experience, we promise our resources are easy to use.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Activities during the Easter holidays<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It is important to have downtime no matter what is going on in our lives!\u00a0 All staff are working from home just now or are on a rota within the Hub and therefore it is difficult to issue \u2018hard copies\u2019 or printed versions of tasks for children to complete at home.\u00a0 To this end, during the Easter Holiday period (Monday 6th April &#8211; Friday 17th April inclusive) there will be a reduction in our online digital presence as well as no additional tasks provided during this period.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Keep in touch<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Whilst things may be very different and we are not in our building together, we are still all Mossend Primary School &amp; Nursery Class!\u00a0 Our staff are still here for you and we will do all we can to ensure that questions, pleas for help with learning\/work, support with Free School Meals, etc. are all answered as soon as possible.\u00a0 By now, I am sure that you will know the various ways to keep in touch, but just to remind you, our contact details are below.\u00a0 You can also&#8230;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>SIGN UP TO OUR SCHOOL APP<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>FOLLOW US ON TWITTER<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>CHECK OUR SCHOOL WEBSITE<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>What to expect in the coming weeks<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Every now and again, we will post updates on the school App.\u00a0 This can include general updates, information, signposting to resources or just a general hello!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Our Staff<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Our staff are having regular discussions and we have had our first ever digital meetings this week, using Microsoft Teams (we all had to make sure our hair and make was done on those days!) We discussed progress with Digital Learning and how we are supporting our children.\u00a0 Staff are also learning how to make the most effective use of digital technologies during these challenging times.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Making more and best use of all of the digital content<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Many of our families are engaging with the resources we have offered.\u00a0 However, we still do not know how long this current period of \u2018Lockdown\u2019 will last and when our schools will reopen to the general population.\u00a0 Whilst we encourage everyone to get on board with our digital offerings, we also recognise the need for downtime and relaxation!\u00a0 Please do not stress about things in terms of school work, but please do try to get your child to engage with some learning every school day!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Remember to keep in touch &#8211; even if it is just to share a photo of something fun!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>We miss you all and we look forward to seeing you all when this is over.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear Parents\/Carers, boys and girls, We are most certainly in the midst of strange and challenging times.\u00a0 I am writing to you, assuring you that my thoughts are with you all and with our families and wider school community.\u00a0 Having &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/2020\/04\/07\/head-teacher-newsletter-april-2020\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45400,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12686],"tags":[123210],"class_list":["post-4335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-whole-school","tag-newsletter"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45400"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4335"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4335\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4336,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4335\/revisions\/4336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/nl\/mossendps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}