School Update – Please respond as soon as possible.
Dear Parent/ Carer,
I hope you and your family are staying safe and well. Following on from the First Minister’s information yesterday, I would like to update you on some school matters.
The recent few weeks have seen unprecedented change and challenge for pupils, parents and staff. As we migrated to home learning, we all learned to be flexible as we evolved. I wish to thank you for your continued support in home learning and patience as we became familiar with new models for learning. Our staff have responded amazingly well, checking in with our children and providing a wide range of learning activities. Early Years Staff have engaged with pupils using their Learners’ Journals and the Blog. As we develop our blended model for learning it is important that children engage with the online learning activities and check-in for updates and news. Please encourage your children to check in daily to TEAMs, Sumdog, Education City and other online resources.
We have continued to engage with partners including, Kids Gone Wild, Authors Online, SMK Dance School, Hidden Giants, National Galleries and Scottish National Theatres to support learning and provide exciting activities for our children.
New Resources
A range of new online learning resources have been purchased to support learning in Literacy, Numeracy and Music with plans to further extend this to include other areas of the curriculum.
If you experience difficulty accessing the online learning resources please use the school email wlstjosephwhit-ps@westlothian.org.uk for support.
Transition
Our P7 children are currently taking part in an online transition programme with St Kentigern’s staff and will receive transition packs through the mail. Children moving to Whitburn Academy will begin their transition programme in the coming weeks. Any additional events will be shared in their TEAM.
The organising school for the Paris Trip is in discussions with the Travel Company. When I receive a progress update I will contact you by Blog and Groupcall to share the information.
P7 Hoodies have been ordered but have not arrived yet. The Parent Council will gift the children with school ties. When the Hoodies arrive I will contact parents and make arrangements for collection of both hoodie and tie.
Children joining the Nursery Class and Primary 1 will be able to take part in transition programmes in June.
Reports
Due to the current situation, end of year Reports may be emailed this session. Please email your child’s Initials and class with your email address to wlstjosephwhit-ps@westlothian.org.uk
We will then use this as your email for school communications.
Health and Well-being
As we begin to work with Authority and Cluster colleagues to plan our blended learning model, Health and Well-being will be our priority. Currently, a key element of class check-in is to reassure and emotionally support each other and to stay connected.
We understand how difficult it is to balance work and family demands just now and how challenging it can be to engage the children in their learning. Please be assured that we do not expect children to take part in every activity and understand if you cannot engage every day. We are all doing our best. Please start each day afresh and encourage them to take part in activities, news about school events are shared here. If you are having difficulty and wish to discuss it further please email the school email wlstjosephwhit-ps@westlothian.org.uk and I will contact you to offer support.
Safeguarding
West Lothian Council have issued advice on the Safeguarding of our children during this period of learning from home. It follows the principles of the Safe Arrivals procedures. Class Teachers are able to monitor engagement in learning and check-in. If a child is not engaging in learning activities online or does not check-in with the class teacher in a school week and no reason is given for this, the Head Teacher is informed. Attempts will be made to contact the parent by Groupcall, telephone or email. If contact is unsuccessful, a risk assessment will be carried out and a decision made on whether it is necessary to escalate concerns to Social Services or Police Scotland for further investigation.
West Lothian Council have issued online questionnaires for parents and pupils and a link has been placed on the School Blog and App.
As further information becomes available regarding school events, transition and blended learning updates will be placed on the Blog and in TEAMS.
Thank you for your continued support during this period of home learning. We will continue to update you as matters develop. Please stay at home and stay safe and well.
Mrs F.A. Burns
