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Updates on School Closure and Information on Childcare for Key Workers

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Further information and advice from South Ayrshire Council on the school closures and childcare for key workers. Click here for the letter.

In order to give us an idea of numbers of pupils for next week could you email the school if all members of the family are key workers and are working any days next week (please indicate days).

This service is for children in families where ALL ADULTS in the household are designated as keyworkers identified in the list.

Care is available ONLY on the days you are working.

Children who have been sent home from school this week unwell should NOT attend.

Children who present as unwell/displaying symptons will be sent home without exception. Please ensure we have the best contact details for collection.

Registration Forms are required to be completed to apply for a place in one of the care providers after next week

Parents accessing this temporary service within the school should bring their child to the main entrance of the school at 9am. All children must be collected by 3.05pm. Pupils will not be supervised in the playground before 9.00am

Thanks for your support as we work through this together. If you have any further questions post below or email the school and we will do our very best to answer. Holmston.Mail@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

Thank you and stay safe.

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What support is there for pupils entitled to free school meals?

We recognise this a challenging time for many. The health and wellbeing of local families is our priority and we understand the concern these changes will cause.

While schools are closed all pupils entitled to a free school meal and clothing grant will continue to have access to food at lunchtime.

We are working on an alternative to free school meals that will support families during this period of school closures. Packed lunches will be available in every school in South Ayrshire between 12 and 1pm. The location for the availability of lunches will be reviewed as required.

Even though school is closed, there’s no need to go hungry at lunchtime. If you are entitled to a free school meal in South Ayrshire and are able to come along, make sure you pick up your free packed lunch.

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Childcare Provision for Key Workers

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Please see below the attached letter from Douglas explaining the arrangements for key workers and the explanation of a key worker. If your job is not included in this list please keep your child at home.

The most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.

That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend. The fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.

If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.

Where all adults in the family are key workers, please ensure that this is your only option before bringing your child into school on Monday and speaking with a member of the management team. Copies of the Registration Form for provision after next week will be available from the school.  It is an essential part of our national effort to combat this disease.

This service is only for children in families where all adults in the household are designated as keyworkers.

 Childcare provision for Key Workers – Letter from Douglas Hutchison

Registration form – key worker service

 

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Friday 20th March Update

Although the school will close today, we are still waiting to hear what options are available for children of key workers that have no other child care. Please ensure that you follow all government advice to keep youself and the community as safe as possible.

I would like to thank all the school staff for the amazing effort they have put in this week despite a lot of uncertainty and anxiety. They have gone above and beyond to make sure that the children have a ‘normal’ time as possible. The children have all been amazing too.

I hope all our parents have been able to access the ‘Home Learning’ section on the website. If you are having any issues around logging in to any of the websites please email the school.  This will be updated over the duration of the school closure and we will be setting up microsoft teams for each class. This can be accessed through GLOW. We will send out information about this when it is set up.

All microsoft office programmes are available to download free through GLOW. We will re-post how to do this.

If you have any comments about the Home Learning or ways in which we can support you. Please leave a comment or email in.

We will update you when we have further information. In the meantime, stay safe.

School email: Holmston.Mail@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

 

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Thursday Update

As you know schools will close tomorrow. As we get more information about this will be passed on. We will shortly be sending out the password for the Home Learning tab above through the text messaging service.

Staff in school have been amazing this week in spite of all the challenges have been busy organising for educational opportunities that will be available via the website.

Please make sure that your child’s GLOW, Sumdog and P4-P7 Accelerated Reader Log-ins work and you can access these.

We are looking to set up microsoft teams for each of the classes. If this goes ahead you will also receive a text message. Please make sure your contact details are up to date.

As you can imagine we are receiving a lot of phone calls, if you have a queries about usernames or passwords or anything non-urgent you can email the school account: Holmston.Mail@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

We will still be regularly accessing emails when the school is closed and get back to you asap.

Keep safe x

 

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Update

School is open today. Jotters have been given to the pupils. If you do not receive one please  arrange for someone who is not self-isolating to come and collect one or please use your own alternative.

We are continuing to take sensible precautions and preparing to support children who are at home with their learning. Staff are working together within and across schools in South Ayrshire with committment and heart warming support.

Your positivity and rational approach is, as always, greatly appreciated. If you have any further ideas on how we can support each other as a school community we would love to hear from you.

We will be using this blog as well as Twitter to keep you updated. The home learning section will be opened later on this week – we’re busy working on it. Keep safe and well.

Copy of changes to school events letter

 

health and wellbeing

Online Safety

There has recently been a lot of information in the media and on social media about  ‘MOMO’. Please click on the link below or from the side bar on the right for parental information on a range of online and app safety including MOMO, Fortnite and Snapchat

https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/platform-guides/

health and wellbeing

Social Media Information

We have been informed by our campus cop that there have been a number of incidents recently at schools in the local area whereby pupils have been using the internet/social media to communicate indecently with other pupils, and even adults unknown to them. Pupils, some of whom are of mid Primary School age, are downloading various apps such as Snaphat, Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, Whatsapp, Kik and Holla to name a few. Some of the content is sexualised in nature, which is gravely concerning and places the pupils at risk of real harm. Our Campus Officer, PC Blackmore, has already been in schools to talk to classes about keeping themselves safe online. He will be continuing with this in the coming weeks. It is imperative however, that parents are aware of these issues and keep a close eye on their child’s use of devices capable of accessing the internet and limit/remove their use of such apps. We would ask that parents also speak with their child about online safety and the dangers of communicating with strangers online. PC Blackmore is happy to help with any advice should you require any.

 

achievement, expressive arts, Social Studies

Scottish Opera

P5, 6, 7 had great fun today rehearsing and performing 1719! with the Scottish Opera.

1719! travels back to a key moment in Scottish history to tell the story of the Jacobite Scots locked in a desperate struggle to restore the House of Stuart to the throne of Great Britain, while the Hanoverian King George argued with other European rulers over the lands and riches of the New World. King Philip of Spain sent troops and money to help the Jacobites in an attempt to distract the British government from this dispute.

Pupils went back in time 300 years when the Jacobites and their Spanish allies gathered in Glen Shiel for battle with King George’s forces, in what was the last close engagement of British and European troops on British soil.

It was an amazing way to learn about one of the most dramatic and exciting periods in Scottish history.