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We hope that our latest communication finds you all safe and well. We have had another busy week at school; setting work, giving feedback, planning for when we return as well as supervising the students who are attending. I really would like to emphasise how much we are missing all of our students, it is very strange being at school and not hearing or seeing you. Hopefully this week, many of you have heard from your tutors and staff members. I know that the students that I have spoken to, appreciated catching up and just having a chat. If we haven’t managed to speak to you yet, don’t worry we will this week (and don’t forget, if you do need to talk to someone, just phone the school during the working day and someone will be able to take your call).
We hope that all of our students are able to access at least some of the work that we are setting. Please do ensure that you are engaging with this work as it will help to prepare you for when you return to normal lessons. Parents and carers, thank you for everything that you are doing and if you are feeling a little overwhelmed, please do contact us and we can try to support.
Thank you for the positive feedback on the newsletter we sent out last week. As we have said, we will aim to send one weekly with updates and reminders. Going forward, we aim to keep the format the same using the headings hi-lighted in this issue. If you have any issues using any of the hyperlinks, try copying and pasting them directly into your internet browser.
Like the rest of the country we are carefully following the news and guidelines being published around where we are currently and the next steps. We still have no news on when schools are likely to reopen or what the model will look like when they do. However, top educationalists are working alongside the government, in consultation with teachers from across the UK, to put together plans. So, we are looking at various different scenarios to help us prepare. As soon as more information is released we will share this with you. In the meantime, we will continue to work with you to provide the best virtual education for all of our students. For Years 7 – 10, specific curriculum content and lessons are on the links via our website for each year group. To access the school remote portal, click the link below:
https://pewseyvale.sharepoint.com/sites/SchoolClosure
As for Year 11, as I have said in my letter to you, keep your brains active and a reminder that on our website you have got access to some preparatory work that your post-16 providers have suggested you undertake. This can be found under the tab “School Life” and then “Alumni and School Leavers”. If your sixth form provider isn’t listed, then they should have contacted you directly to set work. Again, if any of you are struggling then contact us so we can help you.
In addition, there are many other sites that can be used to keep our students’ minds active and support their learning. Wiltshire Council newsletters/updates are also useful:
https://pewseyvale.org/assets/Uploads/Newsletter-template-Secondary-1-May-ONLINE.pdf
As I have said, most of you will by now have had contact from a tutor or another designated member of staff. We are checking in with all families to ensure that you are well, keeping safe and to address any issues you may have. If you haven’t had a call just yet then it will be within the next week. Should anything arise please do not hesitate to email your child’s tutor as even when staff are not in school they are online during the day and will be able to respond to you. Or if you are really concerned, call the school office on 01672 565000.
Please do keep in touch with us. Send us things in. As advised in the previous letter, please feel free to send completed work back to teachers for them to review and provide feedback and if there are any pieces that they are particularly proud of then please share these with Miss Dean cde@pewsey-vale.wilts.sch.uk so she can create a gallery to showcase all of your hard work. Send us photos of what you have been doing so that we can put these on our website. Send us things for us to share on our website. Again, Miss Dean will be collating these.
This is an unprecedented time and it provides a good chance to look back and reflect. In the Queen’s speech on the 5th April 2020 she said “I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past, it defines our present and our future.” This seems quite poignant at the moment and I thank you for everything that you are doing.
Next week will see 75th Anniversary of VE day. Whilst many communities had exciting plans for the bank holiday celebrations, that can no longer take place, there are lots of virtual events being planned instead. Are you doing anything to mark the occasion, making some bunting, decorating some cakes, having a social distancing street party? If you are, take some photos and send them in. It is really important that we remember that we are all part of a community and it is through working together that we get through tough times.
VE day 2020
When VE Day dawns on 8th May 2020 it will be 75 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe. Years of carnage and destruction had come to an end and millions of people took to the streets and pubs to celebrate peace, mourn their loved – ones and to hope for the future, but not forgetting those still in conflict until 15th August when it was announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War II.
The 75th anniversary will provide our nation, and our friends around the world, with an opportunity to reflect on the enormous sacrifice, courage and determination of people from all walks of life who saw us through this dark and terrifying period.
Pewsey Vale Studio are doing online art classes. They have a page on facebook which tells you the up-coming virtual classes but you can also find the classes on youtube by searching for Pewsey Vale Studio. If you have a go at any of the challenges don’t forget to share your efforts with us; Mrs Slater would love you to add your work to the online gallery on the art Instagram page @pvs_arttextiles.
With all of us spending more time in front of the computer than ever before why not challenge yourself to learn some new skills that could be useful for the future. How about learning to code or even touch type, these links have some useful resources:
Scratch
Great site to practise coding and programming skills.
Learn to touch type!
http://www.typingclub.com/sportal/program-3.game
Challenge yourself to learn to touch type.
Marlborough LitFest – Book Review
Marlborough LitFest is excited to announce a new competition for this year, the ‘Love Books’ national competition run in association with English Literature at Bath Spa University, to celebrate a love of reading amongst teenagers and adults, with cash prizes to be won.
The inaugural ‘Love Books’ competition invites participants from all over the country to celebrate their love of reading by explaining their choice of favourite book, poem or play. The response can be written (up to 750 words) or a video (no more than four minutes), with the emphasis on what entrants love about their chosen read and why they think others should try it.
If you would like to find out more information about this then follow the link https://lovebookscompetition.org
If you need some extra inspiration you might find this site useful:
Once upon a picture
https://www.onceuponapicture.co.uk/
Images and prompts to inspire writing
FSEDesign - Design a Banner
FSEDesign are looking for students to design a banner, which thanks and shows support to the NHS and key workers, for their dedication and hard work during this pandemic.
They will pick 5 winners, who will have their artwork recreated by their talented designers and printed on to a big 3x1m banner for them to proudly attach to their school gates!
To enter, you simply need to take a photograph of the completed worksheet (see image below) and email it to hello@fsedesign.co.uk alongside your full name, age and details of your school.
The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust - Well-being Campaign
The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust (CWMT) have launched their 2020 well-being challenge which will run from 4thMay until the 17th May. There are two age categories (Primary and Secondary) and there is a prize available for both. If you are interested in taking part then you can order a virtual pack from them or you can request a paper copy if you are unable to print resources. You can register for a pack on the website https://www.cwmt.org.uk/wellbeing-challenge
Weekly challenges
In school, you would be completing your PSHRE lessons based around the Compass for Life programme. Well, we would like to challenge you to continue to think about these things and to help you with ideas direct you to the new partnership that Compass for Life are joining with the Tim Henman Foundation and the Smallpiece Trust.
Every Wednesday on the homepage three new challenges will be launched around the themes of being fulfilled, having fun and staying topical. There will be plenty of things for everyone so get involved and share what you are doing.
Take a look on the website for the coming challenges: https://thfonline.org/home/ and don’t forget to share your work with #THFOnline2020 @PewseyValeSch (twitter).
PE with Joe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz0go1pTda8
Join people all around the world for a daily workout at 9am, or watch later.
Smiling Mind:
https://app.smilingmind.com.au/
Meditation. Short audio sessions to help with mindfulness.
Go Noodle:
https://www.youtube.com/user/GoNoodleGames/featured
Hundreds of ‘brainercise’, dancing, strength and mindfulness videos.
@WiltsSport:
https://www.wiltssport.org.uk/
(WASP) on twitter are running virtual dance classes. Why not turn your living room into your own personal dance studio?
Or maybe you have been honing your skills with things like the toilet roll challenge. Has anyone had a go at the handstand challenge where you have to put on a t-shirt whilst upside down?
The Book of Hopes:
https://literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone/9-12/book-hopes/
A popular resource for quiet reflection.
ThinkNinja:
https://www.healios.org.uk/services/thinkninja1
ThinkNinja is an app to help with, empowering children and young people to build resilience, manage their emotional health and to fulfil their potential.
They have recently designed and added content to help with the current situation and they have made the app free for children to download.
The new COVID-19 content provides an opportunity to understand the following:
All of the links to competitions and resources mentioned in this newsletter can be found on the school website on the following page https://pewseyvale.org/school-life/covid-19-school-closure-information/links-to-external-resources-for-home-working/
Keep an eye on the school twitter feed @PewseyValeSch and facebook page @pewsevaleschool to also find out as things are happening.
May:
Year 9 Options
Pewsey’s got Talent
June:
Year 6 Transition
Year 10 Student Leadership Applications
July:
End of term
Future events:
2019/20 Year 11 Prom/Reunion
Presentation evening
So, please look after yourselves. Hopefully by next week, we may have a clearer idea of when schools will be starting to consider reopening in some format or another. Have a great week and stay safe.
Mr Pritchard and the Pewsey Vale Staff
Wilcot Road,
Pewsey,
Wiltshire,
SN9 5EW
T 01672 565000
E admin@pewsey-vale.wilts.sch.uk
