Week 25 - Friday 20th March 2020

Welcome to our newsletter for week 24 of the school year. This last week has been extremely challenging for staff, parents and pupils and we thank you for the support we have received.

We have set up a new email for parents to contact us whilst the school is closed. Please email ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk if you have any queries during the closure. We are keen to support parents and pupils as much as we can during this time so please do keep in touch with us as much as you can.

We will also be updating our Twitter feed and website as much as we can so please do look out for information.

@oldcastleschool

www.oldcastleprimary.co.uk

Message from Mr Thomspon

Dear parents

I wanted to personally thank you for your support over the last few days. I know that we are in unprecedented times and that information at times has been confusing and contradictory. School leaders, like many others, are trying to make sense of the current events and respond to these and I greatly appreciate your understanding at this time.

As a headteacher, I have been humbled by the response shown by staff to the current situation. Their dedication to our school, community and pupils demonstrates the deep sense of professional, social and community responsibility they have. I know that this will continue over the next few days and weeks until we return to a normal rhythm. I cannot praise or thank them enough for their endeavours to date and the important work that they will continue to do in the coming days.

I am continually amazed at the resilience of our pupils. They have faced each day exceptionally well and have risen to the changes and challenges presented. They also have brought joy and laughter which continues to be invaluable at this time. We will ensure that we provide the very best education and support during this period.

Despite the current climate what I can promise you is that for however long the current situation lasts we will provide as much support, warmth and guidance as we can to all families connected to Oldcastle. We will also ensure that this support continues when we return to normal so that reintegration is as seamless as we can make it.

We will endeavour to keep our interaction human (although often not in person) and as a first port of call we have our ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk email.

We will update you with information about Key Workers as we receive this.

If I was to ask anything of our community during the coming days it is that we continue to be kind to each other, to act out of compassion and not fear and that we live by the values that exemplifies our school.

Jeremy Thompson

Important information below from Bridgend County Borough Council

Please note that all Bridgend schools are closed from Friday 20 March.

However, Bridgend County Borough Council will opening five community hubs to offer emergency childcare facilities for the children of parents/carers who are critical to the COVID-19 response.

While I fully appreciate that many of you are in important jobs, in Bridgend, we have defined key workers as those who work for:

• National Health Service;
• Police;
• Fire and Rescue Service;
• Ambulance Service;
• HM Prison Service;
• Social care; and
• Childcare.

It is important to note that childcare facilities will only be available for those children whose parent(s) (either or both) are directly employed by any of the organisations listed above. Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.

Please, therefore, follow these key principles:

• If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
• If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then childcare provision will be available for them.
• Parents should not rely upon childcare for those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
• Parents should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus. They should observe the same social distancing principles as adults.

If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, and you cannot keep your child safe at home, and have no alternative option but to request emergency childcare provision, then your children will be prioritised for community hub provision. This is an evolving model and eligibility will alter over time (eg pupils who are classed as vulnerable)

If you meet all of the critical criteria outlined above, please complete the following form and return it via email as a matter of urgency to EDFSCOVID19@bridgend.gov.uk ideally by 6pm today (Friday 20 March) or at the very latest by 6pm on Saturday 21 March.

I am grateful to you for your patience and continuing support during these challenging times.

L. I Harvey

Corporate Director – Education and Family Support

Bridgend County Borough Council

Access the form via think link below - BCBC Key Worker Form

Google Classroom

We have developed Google Classrooms for children in all year groups and parents have been sent emails with information on how to access the Classroom. If you have not received an email or have difficulty accessing the classroom please email us on ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk

To log onto Google Classroom you do not need a Chromebook simply type 'Google Classroom' into an internet search engine and log in via the instructions sent by email.

Flipgrid

Flipgrid is 100% free for all educators, learners, and families. Engage and empower every voice in your classroom or at home by recording and sharing short, awesome videos...together!

We will be using Flipgrid to record videos for the children. Further information on Flipgrid is included in each year group 'Classroom' - parents / children will need a code to access and this is included in their Google Classroom,

The children will be able to respond but their videos will be visible to others (classmates with the code).

This will be a difficult time for children not being able to see their friends, so being able to see them might help lift spirits. If you do not feel comfortable with others seeing your child's videos then please do not post.