Latest News | Balliol Primary School

Christmas Festivities 2020

Mon 30 Nov 2020 J Driver

Christmas arrangements have to be a little different this year, due to current restrictions. However, that does not mean that we can’t still enjoy a lot of the events we would usually have in school at this time of year. We do have to alter some of them slightly, but we are determined that the children will still be able to have a lovely time. Please read the information below carefully in order that you can fully understand how things differ this year and we hope that you can all enjoy a very merry, Covid free, Christmas when it arrives!

Christmas Cards

Unfortunately, we will not be able to operate our Christmas post boxes this year due to Covid restrictions. Instead, we thought it would be nice for each child to bring in 1 card addressed to the whole class if they wish. The cards can then be put on display within the classroom for everyone to enjoy.

Christmas lunches and Christmas Jumper day - Friday 11th December

On Friday 11th December the children can come into school wearing a Christmas Jumper (voluntary donations to Save the Children if you wish) Please do not feel that you need to buy a jumper especially for this event, you can add tinsel or baubles to an existing jumper instead.

The kitchen will also be serving a hot Christmas dinner this day. As we must keep the class bubbles apart Reception, Years 1 and 2 will eat in the main hall. Years 3 – 6 will eat in the dining hall. There will be a maximum of 2 class bubbles in each hall at any one time sitting in their separate bubble groups. The children will remain in their seats and staff will bring a fully plated dinner to them. Children bringing packed lunches on that day will also sit with their bubble group.

Christmas productions

Unfortunately, we are unable to host any Christmas productions this year due to Covid restrictions. Instead, each bubble group will be recorded singing Christmas songs. These will be uploaded to be shared with you at home through your child’s SeeSaw account.

Christmas Pantomime

We did not want the children missing out on a Christmas Pantomime so we have bought an online pantomime performance ‘Robin Hood and his socially distanced men’ which will be streamed within their class bubble as follows:

EYFS

11th December AM

Year 1

14th December PM

Year 2

14th December PM

Year 3

15th December PM

Year 4

14th December PM

Year 5

11th December AM

Year 6

11th December AM

School will provide each pupil with treats to enjoy during the performance.

Christmas Parties

This year the Christmas parties can only take place within their class bubble. They will all take place in the afternoon sessions of the final week as shown in the table below:

	Monday 14th	Tuesday 15th	Wednesday 16th	Thursday 17th
Main Hall	Nursery	Reception	Year 1	Year 2
Dining Hall	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6

The halls will be deep cleaned and ‘fogged’ each night.

Children wanting to wear party clothes should come to school wearing their party clothes that morning. There will be no changing of clothes during the school day (in line with our Covid risk assessments)

School will provide party food which will be served within the classrooms. The halls will be used for dancing and playing (covid appropriate) party games.

Other Christmas activities

The children will enjoy making a selection of Christmas crafts on the afternoons of the final week (when they are not having a party or watching the pantomime.)

In addition, on Friday 18th December, which is traditionally toy day, the children will not be able to bring in toys from home. However, school will provide a range of resources and activities for them to enjoy. They will enjoy a Christmas movie in the afternoon and as such can attend school on that day in non-uniform (comfortable clothes/onsies etc.)

Kindest regards,

Mrs Driver

Headteacher

Don't let Covid spoil your Christmas!

Wed 25 Nov 2020 J Driver

Please see the attached newsletter which highlights ways we can help families this Christmas.

Don't let Covid spoil your Christmas!

Online Safety

Wed 18 Nov 2020 J Driver

As we and our children spend more time online, the need to be well informed about how to stay safe online becomes increasingly important. To support our parents and carers we have added an online safety page to our website under the Parents tab

Here you can also find an excellent parent guide to online safety produced by internet matters.

Stay Safe!

Team Balliol

Anti-Bullying Week 16th November

Fri 13 Nov 2020 J Driver

Dear parents and carers

It has been lovely to see so many pupils supporting Children in Need by wearing bright colours today, thank you for your support.

Next week sees the focus change to Anti-Bullying and we are asking pupils to come to school wearing odd socks on Monday 16th November to signify how we are all different. Many thanks for your continued support.

Mrs Driver

REMINDER - SCHOOL DROP OFF AND PICK UP TIMES DURING LOCKDOWN 2

Wed 04 Nov 2020 Mrs Driver

Dear parents and carers,

In light of the tighter Covid restrictions due to start tomorrow we would like to remind you of the arrangements we have in place to allow everyone to drop off and collect their children safely at the start and end of the school day.

Can we please ask you to support us by adhering to the following:

Only coming to school at your allocated drop off and collection time and using your allocated entrance (see below)
Breakfast club children must arrive at the main reception door at 8.00am
Only 1 parent per household to accompany children to school.
Leaving as soon as your child is safely in school/collected so as to avoid any unnecessary gatherings at the school gate.

Drop off time Collection time Drop off/collection point

Breakfast club - 8.00am N/A Main reception

Nursery - 9.00am 3.30pm EYFS yard gate next to Leigh’s Nursery

Reception - 9.00am 3.15pm EYFS yard gate next to Leigh’s Nursery

Year 1 - 8.45am 3.00pm Yellow gate in front of main reception

Year 2 - 9.00am 3.15pm Door on the ramp next to the main gates

Year 3 - 8.45am 3.00pm Rear play yard – enter school via the top door

Year 4 - 9.00am 3.15pm Rear play yard – enter school via the bottom door

Year 5 - 8.45am 3.00pm Quiet garden gate

Year 6 - 8.30am 2.45pm Quiet garden gate

Many thanks

Mrs Driver