Dear Parents/Carers

Please see below for a link to a short questionnaire regarding Remote Learning.

We very much value you thoughts and experience so far.

Could you please take a couple of minutes to feedback, by tomorrow, as it will help us in planning for the next set of work.

Thank you

https://forms.gle/zeFJHAN5onihg13VA

Dear Parents/Carers

If your child is currently in receipt of Free School Meal, please complete the short form attached –

https://forms.gle/MnqJ7dymHnJhn4Zw6

Many thanks

Monkton Academy

Dear Parents/Carers

The importance of looking after our physical and mental wellbeing has never been so important.

We have adapted a popular family board game for our school community to enjoy. Hopefully as a family you can come together, work out and release those endorphins (the happy hormone which makes us feel good).

All pupils will be able to access the game through Google Classroom and inside Mrs Moat’s PE folder.

Enjoy!

Family Game

Dear Parents and Carers,

This is just to update you on the situation after yesterday’s decision by the government to close schools at very short notice for children whose parents aren’t keyworkers or classed as vulnerable. We have been really busy making school ready for children who will be returning to school tomorrow and preparing remote learning packs for those children who are not.

If your child is returning to school tomorrow:

• Your child will stay in their present year group bubble and be taught by their year group teachers on a weekly rota basis. The other teacher is responsible for remote learning for those children not at school.
• Children will be taught a normal curriculum and we will run a normal school day.
• Routines for the children will stay the same. The children will arrive and leave school at their normal times and entrances.
• Children will need to wear normal school uniform and bring P.E kits.
• Lunchtime arrangements are the same.
• Please ensure your child brings their P.E kits on Monday and take it home on Friday to be washed.
• Please make us aware of any Covid illness in the family as soon as possible.

If your child is not at school and accessing remote learning:

• Remote learning packs are being prepared. They will follow the same curriculum as those children who are in school. Remote Learning packs will include a daily schedule of learning activities. These will include English, Maths and other curriculum activities. There will be paper activities, platform learning online learning (including Times Tables Rockstars, Spelling Shed, Reading Planet and Reading Plus for Y5 and Y6 pupils). We will also be using Google Classroom as an online learning platform. A 2 week timetable will be included with full instructions and relevant teaching points. This will be refreshed every 2 weeks.
• One of the year group teachers will be responsible for the remote learning experience and will be contactable daily from 9am – 3pm via Google Classroom. This is accessed via our website. Parents are encouraged to use this platform from 2.30pm if they have any questions or queries regarding remote learning. Feedback to pupils will also be given using this platform.
• Home Learning will be available to download for each year group from today on the school App, Facebook page, website and Principals blog.
• Packed lunches will be available for any child receiving Free School Meals, but must be picked up from school. Please let us know of any requirements.
• School learning packs can be picked up from school from Thursday morning. If not collected, they will be delivered to the relevant address. If you need any relevant resources, please let school know.
• Class teachers will be in contact with any parents whose child is undertaking remote learning at least every 2 weeks by phone, in addition to any online contact.
• If you think your child maybe eligible for a school place during lockdown, please get in touch with school.

Can I thank you for all your patience and understanding during this difficult time. It is never easy to arrange significant school changes at such short notice. We have learnt from children’s previous experiences from similar lockdowns and now offer a better educational offer. We are here to support all families during this difficult time but are also aware that things change at such short notice. It can never be easy if parents are working from home or are looking after siblings as well as trying to support other children with their remote learning. We have tried to make our remote learning packs take account of this. If you need anything, please let us know, especially if this is ICT support. We are open everyday with nearly all staff within school. Unfortunately, we cannot accept all children at this time due to government restrictions.

However, we still aim to provide memorable moments all day, everyday for everyone whether or not they are in school.

Please take care of all your loved ones and we hope to see you in the very near future.

Steve Bowler and all the staff and governors at Monkton Academy

Principal

Dear Parent/Carer

After this evening’s announcement, we can confirm we will be closed to ALL pupils tomorrow (Tues 5th) whilst we co-ordinate online leaning and key worker lists.

Could we ask that you make contact with school if you require a key worker place for your child – if you could do this from 8.30 tomorrow morning.

Many thanks.

Dear Parent/Carer, 

As our Autumn term draws to a close we would like to remind you of the arrangements that will be in place during the two-week break. 

• For the first 6 days after teaching ends, if a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms within 48 hours of being in school, the school is asked to assist in identifying close contacts and advising self-isolation, as the individual may have been infectious whilst in school. 
• School staff must be informed as soon as possible via email to office@monktonacademy.co.uk
• School staff are not asked to remain on-call or conduct any contact tracing more than 6 days after the final day of teaching. As our last day in school is Friday 18th December 2020 there should be no pupil contact tracing beyond Thursday 24th December 2020. 

In line with this guidance, the school email will not be monitored from Thursday 24th December and all track and trace responsibility will be undertaken by Public Health England. 

The best way to book a test should you need to do so is to telephone 119 or visit https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. Using our local testing facility at Temple Park Car Park, South Shields will help speed up results rather than opting for a home testing kit. We are not aware of any problems with capacity currently in getting a test at a test centre. 

We hope that you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you all safely back at school on Monday 4th January 2021. 

Yours sincerely,
Mr S Bowler

Principal

Dear Parents/Carers

We are aware of a post that has been circulating on a local social media website that affects both the professional reputation of staff and the school. We believe the post and comments use personal information, names and are unfounded and incorrect. Several comments also suggest causing physical assault or inciting verbal abuse towards members of staff. We take all such matters extremely seriously and will not tolerate any form of abuse, intimidation or harassment of any member of our school community. As a result, we have passed the matter to our legal representatives to take the strongest possible action.

Here at Monkton, we take the safety of all our community extremely seriously. We constantly strive to ensure all are safe in sometimes extremely difficult circumstances. In what has been a truly challenging year, the school has remained open over and above normal requirements and supported families in their hour of need. Most of this goes unreported, but we know the results when we see children’s faces every day. It is always frustrating when ‘key board warriors’ with little or no knowledge of school reality feel it is appropriate to comment with sometimes vile comments to gain their share of the limelight.

When we come to school, both staff and children, we are a family. We nurture, care and respect one another. All towards a common goal.

Like any organization, we don’t always get things right. When this is the case, we always look to improve and take the necessary steps to move forward.

We will not deflect from our path of keeping everybody safe, even in difficult circumstances when balancing the needs of the many. I wish to pay tribute to all members of staff and the school’s Governing Body for all their hard work and dedication to ensuring that we make memorable moments everyday, all day for everyone.

Can all at Monkton Academy, wish all our local community a very Merry and Safe Christmas and a Happy New Year

Steve Bowler                     Louise Heathfield                            Alison Sharp

Principal                              Vice-Principal                                   Chair of Governors

Dear Parents/Carers

Just getting some bits ready for next weeks festive elf trail. Please remember to send your child with a spare pair of shoes / wellies / something which can get muddy as well as their school shoes on their day. Monday y3, Tuesday y5, Thursday y4 and Friday y6.

Free School Meal Vouchers

The voucher scheme has been extended to cover the Christmas holidays and children are entitled to £30 to cover the 2 weeks.

We now have Tesco vouchers available at school and can be collected from this morning from the main office.

Thank you

Monkton Academy