Here, at West Hill Primary Academy, we are aware that keeping our children and staff hydrated will aid them to perform at their very best throughout the day.

As a result, we decided to invest in watercoolers from AquAid.

 

Our unique relationship with AquAid has also given our School the opportunity to help those less fortunate than ourselves, because with each purchase an automatic donation is made to The Africa Trust.

 

These funds are used to build ‘Elephant Pumps’ - a modified version of an age old Chinese rope pulley system. One such pump is currently being installed in Africa on our behalf and it will be a much needed source of clean and fresh drinking water for many.

 

Our School’s name will be proudly displayed on our well and we look forward to adding a photo, a certificate and a letter of thanks from the villagers to our website in the near future.

 

To date AquAid have built over 8,000 such Elephant Pumps across parts of Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe and have donated in excess of £17 million to charity.

We have been asked to share this survey with you on behalf of Kent County Council who are reviewing the school entry hearing screening programme.

 

Children in Reception Year are offered a school entry hearing screen by the Kent School Health Service in school or clinic. This year (and also last year) the programme has been delivered differently as a result of Covid-19 and families have been given the opportunity to opt into the programme if they have concerns about their child’s hearing.

If your child is in Year 2 please complete our 10-minute survey by the 12th of March 2021, so that your views can be included in any future plans for the screening programme.

https://surveys.kent.gov.uk/HearingScreenParents

If your child tests positive for Covid 19 during the Christmas Break please can you let us know  by completing this form. It is important that we have a record of positive cases so that we can advise those who may need to isolate and in addition we will know when to expect your child back at school.

 

PLEASE ONLY COMPLETE THIS FORM IF YOUR CHILD TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID19.

 

COVID 19 Form

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

As we come to the end of another week, I have two more updates for you in relation to Coronavirus and how this affects the organisation of school.

 

Firstly, our risk assessment continues to highlight parents congregating and approaching members of staff as an area of risk.  With this in mind, we would now like to ask all parents to wear a face covering when they drop off or pick up their child, or when they are having a conversation with members of school staff.  The threat of the coronavirus being spread by close contact (less than 2 metres) is still very real, and we need to do everything we can to keep staff, parents and of course our children as safe as possible.  From Monday, please wear a face-covering when you are dropping off your child and when you are approaching members of staff, even for a brief conversation.

 

Secondly, I have been very unhappy with lunch organisation.  We changed the system to allow the maintaining of bubbles, but the packed lunches supplied by CH&Co, our meals provider, are simply not sufficient to keep our little ones and our bigger ones full and satisfied throughout the day.  I have been in constant contact with CH&Co and well as Kent County Council throughout this week, and we have now put in place a system which will allow children to maintain their class bubbles, whilst also receiving a hot meal.  All meals will be pre-served and placed in suitable takeaway containers, a picture of which I have attached to this email.  We have been able to organise lunch times with some children eating in the canteen (whilst still in their bubbles) and other children eating in their classrooms.  We have all the necessary hygiene procedures in place, but now, after a great deal of manoeuvring, we are able to offer a hot meal to all children, as well as maintain our Covid-safe bubbles.  I would also like to remind all parents that ALL children in Years R, 1 and 2 are entitled to a free school lunch, and I would urge as many parents as possible to opt in to this, so your child is receiving a hot lunch every day.  The menu for week commencing Monday 5^th October is attached to this email.

 

I do apologise that this update is being received on a Friday, before changes take place on Monday, but I had to be very sure that all appropriate measures were in place to keep our children and staff as safe as possible.

 

Kind regards,

 

Garry Ratcliffe

We are so proud to have the wonderful work of The Galaxy Trust featured in this Parentzone blog. On Safer Internet Day this year we launched our new approach to Online Safety: The Be Internet Legends curriculum. Check out the article for more information and be sure to watch the video of the pupils of The Galaxy Trust explaining it all!

 

https://parentzone.org.uk/article/the-programme-i-have-been-waiting-for