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Dear Parents and Carers
Blink and you would have missed it! Another half term goes by and we are at the half way point of the
school year. As I write this I can hear the Year 6 children starting to arrive with their bags and smiles all
ready for our three day trip to Cardiff. We always have a great time away taking in Cardiff Castle, the
Principality Stadium and the wonderful ‘Big Pit’ up there on the Welsh Valleys. We’re taking away 67
fantastic children and I look forward to telling you more about it in the first newsletter after the half term
break.
The week before last we bid farewell to Miss Haskell-Wood after 20 years working in the school. Claire
has been our Data and Systems Manager and a key member of our administration team. Across
Somerset there are very few people that know more than Claire with regard to how to use the Schools
Information Management System (SIMS) and in particular how to use Assessment Manager which is the
system that stores data and ultimately builds the profile of how your young person is doing in school. We
wish Claire our very best wishes as she takes on a new role at The Taunton Academy – a final challenge
and one that she will be superb at. Many thanks for all you have done for Swanmead.
Many thanks for helping us tighten up on uniform over the last few weeks. In the grand scheme of the
world it might not seem the most important thing. However, ensuring that children across the school are
dressed smartly and correctly, is a vital message to them for when they start the world of work someday
soon. A continued reminder to ensure that children are in shoes not trainers and that leggings are not
part of our school uniform.
Finally, thank you for your continued support with our Academy project. Following my letter to you last
week, I was really grateful to the many of you that emailed (or stopped me in the street!) to show your
frustration and to voice your continued backing to the process. I am sure we will get there with this, but
it will just take a bit more time than any of us were expecting.
A reminder that we finish school tomorrow (Thursday) and return to back on Monday 24th February. All
have a great half term break with your children.
Mark Walker
Headteacher
Telephone: 01460 52431 e-mail: [email protected] Web Address: www.swanmeadschool.co.uk
The Swanmead Pen Parents’ Newsletter – Term 1.2 DATE: Wednesday 12th February 2020
Swanmead Community School
Ditton Street
Ilminster
Somerset
TA19 0BL
Headteacher: Mr Mark Walker
Year 8 Eco Houses
Children in Year 8 have spent loads of hours designing and putting the finishing touches to their eco
houses in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) competition held via their Science and
DT lessons. We spent a large proportion of time in assembly last week celebrating their talents,
showing off their designs and presenting them with their awards. Daniel, Ben, Ethan, Emma P, Emma S
and Spencer all received Highly Commended for their work with Isabel (Bronze), Becca (Silver) and
Noah (Gold) taking the top awards for these wonderful pieces of work. Engineering and ‘clever design
inventions’ is where the money is parents! Continue to encourage this and well done to the children
involved.
PSHE Day 3
We have just enjoyed our third PSHE day of the academic term:
Year 5 - Children in year 5 enjoyed finding out about cultural celebrations from different parts of the world. They
looked at Chinese New Year, Ethiopian Enukutatash and Thai Songkran and produced a range of beautiful art
work.
Year 6 - Year 6 developed their enterprise skills looking at developing product and marketing skills, and even
created music to reflect and sell products.
Year 7 - The theme for year 7 was rights and responsibilities. They looked at what they are responsible for
personally and how our actions can affect others. Human rights was also studied and what can happen when this
is not adhered to.
Year 8 - Year 8 had sex and relationships education where the theme examined health and protection, and what
is appropriate in relationships. Pressurised relationships were looked at via a play and workshop, which also
looked at the importance of honesty, trust and communication. We are looking forward to the next PSHE day in
March.
Numeracy Ninjas Numeracy Ninjas – Grand Master – Ruler Prize (20 x Black Belts)
Jaike N Emma P
Numeracy Ninjas – Grand Master – Rubber Prize (15 x Black Belts) Noah B Joseph S Leo R
Numeracy Ninjas – Grand Master – Pencil Prize (10 x Black Belts) Clara S
Numeracy Ninjas – Grand Master (3 x Black Belts) Daniel L
Numeracy Ninjas – Black Belt Kira H Sophie D
Sports News
Year 8 Hockey
Well done to our U13 girls’ cricket team who had a
great game against Holyrood with some of the girls
playing their first ever cricket match.
KS2 Hockey
Well done to our two U11 hockey teams who took part
in a tournament at Holyrood with one team reaching
the semi-finals. It was great to be able to take 15
pupils due to their commitment to attending hockey
club last term!
KS2 Cross Country
Well done to Harry, Josh, Charlie, Freddie, Summer,
Sky and Barnaby who took part in the Kings College
Primary School cross country race in very muddy
conditions!
Severe Weather Conditions – School Closures
Should the weather forecast tell us that we might be expecting some colder weather we will always
endeavour to ensure that the school is open if it is safe to do so. If you suspect that there could be the
potential that the school might be closed then I remind parents of the different options there are to
check:
a) Notices to be placed on the school website – www.swanmeadschool.co.uk and on the front
door of the school.
b) Message written on the school’s Facebook page.
c) Check the county school closures website on – www.somersetschoolclosures.org.uk
d) Listen to the following radio stations which will pick up school closures for
broadcast/publication on their website:
• BBC – Somerset. 95.5 FM, 1566 MHz
• Tone FM 107.8 FM (Taunton & surrounding areas)
Parents’ Evening Dates
Please make a note of the Parents’ Evenings taking place in the Spring/Summer Term.
Year 7 Parents’ Evening - Tuesday 3rd March
Year 8 Parents’ Evening – Wednesday 25th March
Year 5 Parents’ Evening - Tuesday 28th April
Year 7 History
As part of their history curriculum, Year 7 have been working hard designing their own
Motte and Bailey castles - there were some fabulous designs! Different mediums were used
to help the children explain what different parts of the castle were for. These included
elaborate posters, detailed Lego designs, papier mache models and some brilliant Mine Craft
work. Some even used food as their chosen medium and made some delicious cakes.
Sure you don’t really want to read this but schools have been encouraged to forward this on
to parents regarding the latest coronavirus situation.
Coronavirus – Advice for all early years providers, schools and
further education providers
The government is closely monitoring the spread of the Coronavirus and is taking action at
home and abroad. The overall risk of Coronavirus to the UK remains moderate. However we
understand that people may be concerned where there are children, students or staff
returning from or visiting China. Public Health England and the Foreign Office have issued
advice for anyone travelling to the area. This can be found at:
· https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china
· https://www.gov.uk/government/news/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-and-avian-flu-
advice-for-travel-to-china
Latest information and advice can also be found at:
· https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Please share this advice with your staff and cascade as appropriate.
Advice for parents/guardians
You should not be unduly worried about the possibility of your children catching the
Coronavirus. There is no reason why your children should not continue to attend their early
years, school or further education setting as normal.
We recognise that some families or children may be planning to travel to China during the
forthcoming half term period. If so, please refer to the FCO’s latest travel advice via the link
above.
What action you can take
A UK wide campaign has been launched to provide clear advice on how to slow the spread
of Coronavirus. Please help to support the campaign which promotes basic hygiene
practices, such as regularly washing hands and always sneezing into a tissue, to stem the
spread of viruses.
You can do this by:
Displaying this poster in relevant public spaces:
· https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e35b25740f0b609169cb52a/coronavir
us-public-info-poster-2.pdf
Sharing DHSC content from the following social media links:
· https://twitter.com/DHSCgovuk/status/1223888531262726144
· https://www.facebook.com/DHSCgovuk/videos/194227541968649/
· https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dhsc_coronavirus-coronavirusoutbreak-
coronavirusuk-activity-6629655670331318273-Djpu