Latest News | Bishops Waltham Infant School

Remembrance Day

Mon 09 Nov 2020

Lest we Forget

We sadly have not been issued with poppies to sell this year for the children and the British Legion have requested that due to current conditions that people make online donations only.

We will be honouring Remembrance Day with a 2 minute silence at 11am on the 11/11/2020. In today's assembly we read 'Flo of the Somme' by Hilary Robinson and Martin Impey. This is a story all about the animals that were used in World War 1, including 50,000 dogs, 3,000 000 horses and 100,000 pigeons! The link below will take you into the Remembrance Day short clips on BBC Bitesize, some of which we will share with the children.

https://www.bwis.org.uk/remembrance-day/

Online donations to the British Legion can be made via this link

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate?gclid=Cj0KCQiA7qP9BRCLARIsABDaZzje2lcD-ouOQSNSRnL5UuNCp7EsUcOvvAqv6osoGFoXWsXrVdayG1MaAv_XEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Children in Need Day Friday 13th November

Fri 06 Nov 2020

We will be supporting Children in Need Day on Friday 13th November by having a 'Dress Down day'. We suggest a £1 donation, but it is completely up to you! Pudsey ears or facepaints are also welcome! It might be a bit chilly, so make sure any clothing is suitable for weather in November.

Latest Government Guidance 4/11/2020

Wed 04 Nov 2020

Please find the link to the latest government guidance regarding schools during the lockdown which starts tomorrow. This guidance was released at 3.30pm. We do not think there is anything further we need to do in line with the guidance. Some parents have asked about face masks. It is not compulsory in the open air, and our entrances and exits are staggered and one way. If you would like to wear a face mask, please do so.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-and-childcare-settings-new-national-restrictions-from-5-november-2020?utm_source=4%20November%202020%20C19&utm_medium=Daily%20Email%20C19&utm_campaign=DfE%20C19

Welcome Back!

Mon 02 Nov 2020

Dear All

The children have had a lovely start back on a very windy day! We have updated our Covid 19 Risk Assessment in light of the new announcement on Saturday, which you will find below. Due to the arrangements we had already tweaked re drop and pick up times, and Year 1 parents now exiting through car park if the gate is open, staggering outside play further, we are hoping when the government release more guidance to schools during the forthcoming lockdown period, we will not need to make any further changes, but we will keep you updated as soon as we know more.

Some parents have asked whether we are going to make face masks mandatory for adults dropping off or picking up children. As we are lucky enough to have an open air one way system, where parents are not facing parents face on, at the moment we are not making this mandatory. If any adults would like to wear one, considering how many children and other adults they could potentially come into contact with whilst on our site, then I recommend that they do so. Unlike the start of September, children are more accustomed to seeing facemasks in use, and are not surprised by them.

A parent, who has visited many school sites, told me this morning that ours was the best organised site he has seen regarding covid measures. I was very pleased to hear this and I hope he doesn't mind me sharing that information with you. The next few weeks will hopefully be as normal as they possibly can be for the children in our school.

I hope you all had a lot of fun on the pumpkin walk around Bishops Waltham on Saturday. I think the rain held off long enough for people to come outside for it. A huge thank you to our own PTA and BWJS PTA. An incredible £1900 was raised and we are vey, very grateful. Without any of our normal fundraising events, we have been left with a depleted budget for items for the children that we usually fund, so this has come as a huge bonus. Thank you to everybody involved. What a fantastic community idea.

Thank you for your continued support of the school. It is very much appreciated, and we are all longing for the day when a little bit of normality resumes.

Kind regards

Mrs Riches

Link to latest Risk Assessment:

https://www.bwis.org.uk/information-letterspamphlets/

Have a lovely Half Term!

Fri 23 Oct 2020

We would like to wish you all a restful half term and enjoy your time with your family. Our October newsletter is now out with important information regarding our site organisation and timings from 2nd November.

Our virtual new parents meeting will be sent out to prospective parents in the week beginning November the 2nd. If you know of any first time parents who are unfamiliar with our school, please ask them to contact the school office to make sure they receive this information. School admissions for both Year R and Year 3 are open in November, so Year 2 parents will need to look at their choices for September 2021 too.

If anybody is doing the spooky Halloween pumpkin trail this half term you will get a spooky surprise at our school!

Best Wishes

Mrs Riches and Everyone at BWIS

November School Menus

Fri 23 Oct 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

The school lunch menus will change after October half term and can be found on our website here. There will be two menus that alternate weeks to give more choice.

The School Office

Thank you for your kind donations to Meon Valley Food Bank

Mon 19 Oct 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you for all of the generous donations for our Harvest Festival this morning. With your help Meon Valley Food Bank will now be able to help more local families who need support through the provision of food. Your donations are now being collected tomorrow morning, so if you would like to donate some tins or packets you still have time. There is a box in the turning circle for anymore donations.

https://www.meonvalleyfoodbank.co.uk/

Later on today you will be able to see our virtual Harvest Festival (password protected) and we hope that you enjoy it as much as we have.

Christmas Card Competition

Fri 16 Oct 2020

Dear Children of Bishops Waltham Infant School

Flick Drummond, the Member of Parliament for Meon Valley, needs your help to design a 'parliament themed' Christmas card. Details on the competition are on the link below. The closing date is November 1st 2020.

Good luck everyone!

https://www.flickdrummond.com/news/christmas-parliament-competition

Latest Advice for all Hampshire Parents and Carers

Mon 05 Oct 2020

Letter to parents - when to get your child tested

Fri 25 Sep 2020

Public Health England has produced a letter for schools and colleges to share with parents which explains when a child requires a coronavirus (COVID-19) test and what the symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are.

The intention of the letter is to support parents and carers in identifying when their child needs to self-isolate as a result of displaying coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms and answer some of the questions parents may have around testing.